Brett M. Johnson

Founder and Partner

Mr. Johnson is a Founder and Partner of Fortuitous Partners (www.fortuitouspartners.com), a diversified opportunity fund platform investing in professional sports anchored multi-asset developments in opportunity zones.

Mr. Johnson is the Co-Chairman of the Phoenix Rising Football Club (www.phxrisingfc.com), a minor league professional soccer team, based in Phoenix, Arizona. PHX Rising is currently in consideration for a Major League Soccer franchise. In 2005, Mr. Johnson founded Benevolent Capital (www.benevolentcapital.com), a private equity fund with investments in real estate, manufacturing and consumer brands, including Phoenix Rising FC, Octagon Partners, ArcherDX, TerraCycle, and NYC Office Suites.

From 2015 to September 2016, Mr. Johnson was a Managing Director of Zealot Networks (www.zealotnetworks.com). Founded by Danny Zappin, who founded and sold Maker Studios to Disney for $950 million, Zealot Networks is a digital media company that comprises 18 portfolio companies and $150 million in revenue. Mr. Johnson managed the technology and content business units within Zealot.

From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Johnson was the President and Director of Greenwood Hall (www.greenwoodhall.com). Founded in 1997, Greenwood Hall is a full service education management firm. The Company provides the infrastructure and student lifecycle solutions that enable post-secondary institutions to compete successfully in the global e-learning marketplace. Mr. Johnson led a comprehensive restructuring of the business, including recapitalizing the balance sheet through a public offering (OTC: ELRN), closing an unprofitable business unit, restructuring the executive team, and establishing a major strategic alliance with Cengage, one of the leading education publishers in the industry.

From 2010 to August 2012, Mr. Johnson was the CEO and President of Forward Industries (www.forwardindustries.com NASDAQ: FORD). Forward Industries designs, sources, markets and distributes accessories for the handheld consumer electronic product industry, including smartphones, tablets, notebook computers and medical monitoring and diagnostic equipment. During his tenure, Mr. Johnson expanded the revenue streams, geographical reach and product lines of Forward.

From 2001 to 2004, Mr. Johnson was the President of Targus (www.targus.com), the leading global provider of mobile computing solutions with sales of $545 million. With offices in 36 geographies and sales in 145 countries, Targus designs and markets a broad range of notebook carrying cases and accessories for mobile computing consumers. Prior to his promotion to president of Targus, Mr. Johnson served as Managing Director of Targus EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and Asia-Pacific from 1997 to 2001 and resided in London, UK. Mr. Johnson was instrumental in the sale of the company to a private equity company in 2005, providing considerable returns to shareholders. Mr. Johnson continued to serve as an Executive Director on Targus’ board of directors until 2009.

From 2013 to 2015, Mr. Johnson was a member of the Board of Directors, and the Chairman of the Compensation Committee, at Blyth Inc. (NYSE: BTH). Blyth is a $1 billion direct to consumer sales company and leading designer and marketer of accessories for the home and health & wellness products. Blyth was acquired by the private equity firm, Carlyle, in November 2015. Mr. Johnson is a Director of TerraCycle (www.terracycle.com). Mr. Johnson is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (www.YPO.org) and earned a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Presidential/Key Executive program at Pepperdine University. In 2014, Mr. Johnson graduated from the Harvard Business School’s President’s Leadership Program. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Board of Trustees for Choate Rosemary Hall and is a Senior Fellow in Entrepreneurship and a member of the Board of Visitors for the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University.