Optimal Advisory Launches, Focused on Investment and Strategic Advisory within the Consumer Sector

NEW YORK, Sept. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Launched today, Optimal Advisory is a firm serving the growing need for focused, differentiated, market-informed guidance in the economy's largest sector - Consumer. Optimal is founded by Jonathan Feeney and David Schick, who together bring nearly 60 years of experience in capital markets and investment advisory across the Consumer sector.

"The Consumer sector sits at a critical crossroads at a period of tremendous change. We are thrilled to work with longtime capital and corporate clients with our unique advisory capabilities," said Jonathan Feeney. David Schick added, "We have intentionally built our firm with our Optimal mix: people across Consumer from our team to our Board of Advisors to our Consumer Collective; proprietary analysis across Consumer; and perspective across Consumer, our combined experience to bring Optimal's clients advice across investing and strategic decisions."

Optimal's Board of Advisors includes:

• Mike Goss - former COO and CFO of Bain Capital, former CFO of Sotheby's, former CFO of Conde Nast, and the Chairman Emeritus of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
• Glenn Krevlin - Founder and Principal & Portfolio Manager of Glenhill Capital, a Partner & Consumer Portfolio Manager at Cumberland Associates; served on numerous advisory, private, and public boards, including Design Within Reach, Restoration Hardware, and Capital Q; serves on NYU Stern Executive Board.
• Andrea Shaw Resnick served as CCO, CFO, and IR at Tapestry; recognized in II Magazine All-American Exec Team and IR Magazine Hall of Fame; Senior Portfolio Manager at HSBC Asset Management.

Optimal's Consumer Collective includes:

• Gina Martin Adams – former Head of Portfolio Strategy and Chief Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence; former Wells Fargo Chief Strategist
• Ben Gore – COO and Board Member at Christie's; formerly a Consumer Portfolio Manager for long-short and long-only investment management institutions
• Bob Hull – former CFO of Lowe's, Chairman and Co-CEO of Tailored Brands, Chairman of SPX Flow, board member of Mattress Firm, Bojangles, and Cedar Creek; current board member of Belk
• Richard Jaffe – Adjunct Professor at SUNY FIT; former highly-regarded Retail Analyst at UBS, Legg Mason, and Stifel; prior worked in merchandising and management at Macy's and Dress Barn
• Dhani Jones –founder of Qey Capital, founder of BowTie Cause, Aspen Institute Fellow, Washington Nationals Philanthropies
• Scott Monette – former CFO of Ralcorp, serves as a board member for Emprise Group, Spartan Light Metal Products, and the Commerce Funds
• David Strasser – Partner at Swan & Legend, board member at Jose Andres Group, former board member at Cava, Order Groove, Urbanstems

Optimal's Co-Founders

Jonathan Feeney is a Consumer industry leader, Director of Research, Analyst, and investor with nearly 30 years of investing experience. He's assisted in investments, IPOs, and transactions for a diverse array of companies across Food, Tobacco, Beverages, Foodservice, and HPC. Jonathan is Co-Chair of the Consumer Analyst Group of New York. He has been a guest lecturer on business valuation at Yale School of Management and Fordham's Gabelli School of Business. He is active in the NYC chapters of the Private Directors Association and is a CFA Research Challenge Mentor. He began his career at Lehman Brothers and had roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, Wells Fargo, and CER. Jon is a 1997 graduate of Harvard College and was Captain of the Heavyweight Crew Team.

David Schick has been an award-winning Analyst, Director of Research, investment banker, and investor with nearly 30 years of advisory experience. David has worked with the largest investment firms and an array of public and private companies and counseled on transactions. He began his career at Lehman Brothers in Consumer Equity Research, and his career included roles at Credit Suisse First Boston, Legg Mason, and Stifel. David was recognized in II Magazine's awards for Top Next Generation and Best of Boutiques. David served as Vice Chair and Trustee of MCPS Public Pension and on the Brookings Economics Studies Council. David has appeared in The Economist, WSJ, Barron's, New York Times, and CNBC. David is a graduate of the University of Michigan and studied at the London School of Economics.

Press contact: [email protected] 

www.optimaladv.com

SOURCE Optimal Advisory, LLC