# Andrew Richards

> Andrew Richards founded Swander Pace Capital in 1996 and serves as CEO, managing director and chairman of its investment committee. Based in Bedminster, New Jersey, he invests in consumer businesses and has served on company and museum boards. His education includes a Harvard fine arts degree and a Harvard Business School MBA.

- **Role:** Founder, CEO and Managing Director at Swander Pace Capital
- **Organizations:** Swander Pace Capital, PaineWebber, William E. Simon & Sons, Presidential Task Force on Market Mechanisms, Storm King Art Center, National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Gregson Foundation, The Newark Museum of Art
- **Education:** AB in Fine Arts, cum laude, Harvard University, MBA, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Founded a consumer-focused private equity firm in 1996 and remains its CEO and investment committee chair., Served on the presidential task force investigating the 1987 market crash., Has served on boards of Applegate, Merrick Pet and Pineridge Bakery, among other consumer companies.

## Career timeline

- **—** — Began in investment banking at PaineWebber, advising emerging growth companies.
- **1987 crash investigation** — Served on the Presidential Task Force on Market Mechanisms under Ronald Reagan; exact service dates are not specified in the official biography.
- **—** — Directed consumer-sector private equity investments at William E. Simon & Sons before founding SPC.
- **1996** — Founded Swander Pace Capital.
- **2015** — SPC sold its minority Applegate investment in the $775 million transaction with Hormel; Richards chaired the Newark Museum Legacy Gala.
- **2016** — SPC announced its sixth fund at $510 million.
- **2024** — Judged the National Museum of Racing’s sixth Photo Finish photography exhibition.
- **2026** — SPC reached its thirtieth year; Ferrero announced an agreement to acquire Purely Elizabeth from its founder and investors.

## Achievements

- Founded a consumer-focused private equity firm in 1996 and remains its CEO and investment committee chair.
- Served on the presidential task force investigating the 1987 market crash.
- Has served on boards of Applegate, Merrick Pet and Pineridge Bakery, among other consumer companies.
- Serves as a trustee of Storm King Art Center and the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

## Latest updates

- **2026-08** — Ferrero signed an agreement to acquire Purely Elizabeth, an SPC investment since 2021; the announcement described a proposed transaction subject to closing conditions and approvals.
- **2025-06** — SPC acquired Maple Donuts, described as its eighth bakery platform and fifteenth bakery investment.

## Links

- Website: https://spcap.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-richards-1008bb38

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/andrew-richards
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-10