# Virag Patel

> Virag Patel is the co-founder and CEO of ePac Flexible Packaging. An experienced packaging executive with prior roles at Exopack and Coveris, he built ePac’s operational infrastructure as COO before becoming CEO in July 2023. The company uses digital printing, repeatable facilities and its ePacONE platform to help brands buy packaging closer to demand. Patel remains CEO following Butterfly Equity’s January 2026 acquisition.

- **Role:** Co-Founder and CEO at ePac Flexible Packaging
- **Organizations:** ePac Flexible Packaging, Exopack, Coveris, Arion Partners
- **Education:** BS in Finance, Clemson University, MBA in International Business, Thunderbird School of Global Management
- **Known for:** Helped build ePac from a single Wisconsin plant into an international manufacturing network., Built operational infrastructure and led global expansion as COO., Succeeded founding CEO Jack Knott in July 2023.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2015** — Held leadership roles in procurement, international strategy, marketing and M&A at Exopack and Coveris; also worked in M&A advisory at Arion Partners.
- **2015** — Co-founded ePac with Jack Knott and Carl Joachim; company formation papers were signed in 2015.
- **2016** — ePac opened its first manufacturing plant in Madison, Wisconsin.
- **2017** — Settled into the COO role, overseeing operations as the network expanded.
- **2022** — Participated in the announced purchase of 50 HP Indigo presses; ePac introduced ePacONE in November.
- **2023** — Appointed CEO in July, succeeding co-founder Jack Knott.
- **2024** — Led ePac during a strategy reassessment that consolidated US manufacturing from 15 plants to 11.
- **2026** — Continued as CEO following Butterfly Equity’s acquisition; ePac and HP announced an approximately $50 million, three-year commercial agreement.

## Achievements

- Helped build ePac from a single Wisconsin plant into an international manufacturing network.
- Built operational infrastructure and led global expansion as COO.
- Succeeded founding CEO Jack Knott in July 2023.
- Remained CEO following the 2026 Butterfly Equity acquisition; the incumbent leadership team retained a significant ownership interest.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Discussed ePac’s forthcoming Phoenix flagship facility and changing factory footprints in a public CEO interview.
- **2026-02** — HP announced an approximately $50 million, three-year ePac agreement for equipment, consumables and services, including new HP Indigo 200K presses.
- **2026-01** — Butterfly Equity acquired ePac; Patel and the leadership team stayed in place and retained a significant ownership interest.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/virag-patel-43250a3

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/virag-patel
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-14