Rakesh Kaul Named Senior Advisor to Consumer & Retail Team; 30 Years of Operational and Entrepreneurial Growth Experience

New York – Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announced that Rakesh K. Kaul will join the firm as a Senior Advisor to the Consumer & Retail investment team, which is headed by Managing Director Sandra J. Horbach. Mr. Kaul is currently and will continue his role as Chairman of Spherenomics LLC., an Indo US marketing and outsourcing solutions provider for consumer brands. He begins his Carlyle duties immediately.

Mr. Kaul will also join the Board of Directors of Oriental Trading Company, a Carlyle portfolio company that is a direct marketer of party supplies, novelties, toys and children’s arts and crafts, school supplies and value-priced home décor and giftware.

Ms. Horbach said, “Rakesh brings 30 years of operational, entrepreneurial and turn-around experience to Carlyle. His consumer and multi channel marketing experience and innovative global business development skills will foster our ability to create value for our portfolio companies.”

Mr. Kaul said, “In a short while, Sandra has built a sizable team and is leading interesting and substantial investment transactions. I welcome the opportunity to add my operational experience to Carlyle’s consumer and retail activities, a multi channel marketing sector brimming with companies that can benefit from creative strategic thinking and a sophisticated analytical approach to customer franchise development and retention.”

Mr. Kaul has a range of senior corporate experience, including: Chief Executive Officer of Hanover Direct, Inc., a catalogue marketing business; Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer of Fingerhut Companies, a general merchandise direct marketer, where he created Metris credit card companies; Chief Strategy / Corporate Development Officer of Shaklee Corporation, a direct seller of nutritional products and also a direct marketer of gift foods, under the Harry and David brand name; Director of Corporate Development of Beatrice/Hunt-Wesson, Inc., a marketer and manufacturer of branded grocery and restaurant food products.

The Consumer & Retail team led Carlyle’s investment in three companies: Dunkin’ Brands, Oriental Trading Company and philosophy.

Mr. Kaul earned his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, his M.S. from Brown University and his B.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology.