Closed Loop Partners Adds New Private Equity Managing Director to Accelerate Growth

Daniel Phan joins the circular economy-focused firm to co-head its middle market private equity strategy.

NEW YORK, June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Daniel Phan joins leading circular economy-focused firm Closed Loop Partners as Managing Director and Private Equity Co-Head. Following his role as Managing Director at Aterian Investment Partners, Phan joins as a senior member of Closed Loop Partners' asset management business, Closed Loop Capital Management, to co-lead the firm's private equity investment strategy alongside Ron Gonen, Closed Loop Partners' Founder & CEO, and Jackson Pei, Managing Director and current Private Equity Co-Head.   

Phan joins Closed Loop Partners as the firm looks toward continued growth in the coming year. With a recent strategic investment from Capricorn Investment Group into Closed Loop Capital Management, the firm is well positioned for continued expansion and execution on behalf of its corporate, institutional and family office partners.

Phan brings 15 years of buy-and-build private equity experience, having developed numerous platform investments in the built environment, facilities & infrastructure services, among other related industrial sectors. He also brings extensive expertise across specialty manufacturing, chemicals and material sciences, distribution, medical and life sciences, and related sectors.

Prior to joining Closed Loop Partners, Phan was a Managing Director and one of the earliest investment team members at Aterian Investment Partners, where he spent nearly 12 years. Aterian is a leading private equity firm managing over $2 billion of cumulative equity commitments primarily across industrial, services and infrastructure sectors in North America and globally. 

Prior to Aterian, Phan was an investment team member at Corporate Partners LLC, the private equity affiliate of Lazard Frères, and began his career at Deutsche Bank in the Media Telecom group.

"We are proud to have Daniel join the Closed Loop Partners team, as our firm accelerates growth and contributes to the momentum behind the transition to the circular economy. Daniel's longstanding experience in the private equity market, as well as his expertise in key areas of our expansion, bolsters our ability to build circular economy platforms that keep materials in circulation at scale, increase supply chain resilience, and contribute to positive impact outcomes while delivering value to stakeholders for impact," says Ron Gonen, Founder & CEO of Closed Loop Partners.

"This is a key moment of growth for our middle market private equity business, as we build on our successes to date, and leverage the growing relevance of this asset class to global investors," says Tazia Smith, CEO of Closed Loop Capital Management. "As the current market presents a critical opportunity for growth in circular solutions that provide resilience and security, we look forward to working toward key milestones as Daniel, Jackson, Ron and our broader investment team continue to execute on our buy-and-build investment strategy."

Current investors in the firm's private equity investment strategy include KIRKBI; funds and accounts managed by BlackRock; Realdania's mission-driven investment arm; Nestlé; Microsoft; PepsiCo; Unilever; other corporate partners, institutional allocators and global family offices.

"The strength of Closed Loop Partners' platform and ecosystem of investors uniquely positions the firm to continue leading the transition to the circular economy," says Daniel Phan, now Managing Director and Private Equity Co-Head at Closed Loop Partners. "With the expertise of the private equity team, and its ability to leverage the firm's full platform and actively engaged strategic corporate partner network, there is a clear runway ahead for growth and impact. I look forward to working with Jackson, Ron, Tazia and the team to realize these opportunities."

Closed Loop Capital Management's private equity investment strategy will continue its middle market mandate, following its recent acquisitions of circular technology platforms, including a majority stake in leading IT Asset Management and Disposition (ITAD) provider, Sage Sustainable Electronics. Phan and Pei will lead the private equity team in thesis-driven sourcing and value creation, seeking opportunities to acquire cash-flowing businesses across plastics & packaging, circular technology, food & agriculture, built environment, energy efficiency, textiles and healthcare, and build them into larger platforms that can deliver circular solutions at scale.

To learn more about Closed Loop Partners' private equity strategy, please visit https://www.closedlooppartners.com/capital-management/private-equity/leadership/

About Closed Loop Partners

Closed Loop Partners is at the forefront of building the circular economy. The company is comprised of three key business segments: its investment arm, Closed Loop Capital Management; its innovation center, the Center for the Circular Economy; and its operating group, Closed Loop Builders. Closed Loop Capital Management manages venture capital, private equity and catalytic private credit investment strategies.

Closed Loop Partners' private equity strategy captures this market opportunity for the circular economy by identifying solutions, originating innovative opportunities, and building and scaling platforms and enabling technologies across plastics & packaging, circular technology, food & agriculture, built environment, energy efficiency, textiles and healthcare to develop, accelerate and modernize circular supply chains and recycling & reuse infrastructure.

Disclosure

This publication is for informational purposes only, and nothing contained herein constitutes an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any interest in any investment vehicle managed by Closed Loop Capital Management or any company in which Closed Loop Capital Management or its affiliates have invested. An offer or solicitation will be made only through a final private placement memorandum, subscription agreement and other related documents with respect to a particular investment opportunity and will be subject to the terms and conditions contained in such documents, including the qualifications necessary to become an investor. Closed Loop Capital Management does not utilize its website to provide investment or other advice, and nothing contained herein constitutes a comprehensive or complete statement of the matters discussed or the law relating thereto. Information provided reflects Closed Loop Capital Management's views as of a particular time and are subject to change without notice. You should obtain relevant and specific professional advice before making any investment decision. Certain information on this Website may contain forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties and speak only as of the date on which they are made. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "optimistic", "intend", "aim", "will" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Closed Loop Capital Management undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Past performance is not indicative of future results; no representation is being made that any investment or transaction will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those achieved in the past, or that significant losses will be avoided.

SOURCE Closed Loop Partners