Yale School of Management - Daniel O’Connell '80

"Yale SOM attracts smart, grounded individuals who want to make a difference in the world in more than just the commercial arena. It is the personal relationships that grew out of my Yale SOM experience that has made a major difference in my life. I’ll be forever grateful to Yale for providing me that opportunity."

Dan is the founder and chief executive officer of Vestar Capital Partners, a private investment firm managing over $4 billion of equity capital. Founded in 1988, Vestar has invested in over forty companies including Celestial Seasonings, Remington Shavers, St. John Knits, Westinghouse Air Brake, Birds Eye Foods, Michael Foods, Prestone Products, Montpelier Re, and Insight Communications. With 40 professionals and 20partners, Vestar is headquartered in New York with offices in Denver, Paris and Milan.

Dan received his AB from Brown University and an MBA from the Yale School of Management. Prior to founding Vestar, Dan was a managing director and co-head of the Management Buyout Group at The First Boston Corporation. Dan has been a director of over thirty companies through his Vestar and First Boston investments.

Dan was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. He and his wife, Gloria, have five children and live in Greenwich, Connecticut. Dan is a trustee of Brown University, Greenwich Academy, the Cardinal Spellman High School Foundation, and Sts. Philip & James School in the Bronx, New York.