Love Goel of GVG Capital Group
named to 40 Under 40
named to 40 Under 40
March 27, 2009
Love Goel
37
Chairman and CEO,
GVG Capital Group
Love Goel was already an up-and-comer 10 years ago,
when — then a rising chief operating officer at retailer
Federated Department Stores Inc. — he told a Wall Street
Journal reporter that he’d thought about becoming an
investor one day.
"This is a very exciting time for retail … this
will create opportunities for survivors."
Now he’s Chairman and CEO of GVG Capital Group, a
private-equity firm based in Minnetonka, and says his job
is a result of “natural progression” throughout the years.
Since the ’90s, Goel, now 37, has had three careers: first
as a management consultant (at New York-based
Deloitte & Touche), then as a senior executive and now
as a private-equity investor.
Through each career, Goel’s responsibilities have grown
from solving one problem at a time as a consultant to
now dealing with the many problems of GVG Capital
Group’s portfolio companies, he said.
He first made headlines by playing a big role in selling
Fingerhut Direct Marketing Inc., then the country’s second-
largest catalog company, to Cincinnati-based Federated
Department Stores in 1999. At 27, the deal made him
millions.
At GVG Capital Group, Goel balances working closely
with management from his portfolio companies and
spending time analyzing and building retail strategies.
He admits 2009’s climate for retail won’t be for the faint-
hearted, but says that later in the year his company will
be able to make investments at good prices.
“We believe this is a very exciting time for retail,” he said.
“We believe this will create opportunities for survivors —
as long as you know what you’re doing and you’re
careful.”
Aside from his job, Goel chairs the board of Chicago-
based Whitney Automotive Group, a catalog and Internet
retailer for auto parts that GVG Capital Group owns.
37
Chairman and CEO,
GVG Capital Group
Love Goel was already an up-and-comer 10 years ago,
when — then a rising chief operating officer at retailer
Federated Department Stores Inc. — he told a Wall Street
Journal reporter that he’d thought about becoming an
investor one day.
"This is a very exciting time for retail … this
will create opportunities for survivors."
Now he’s Chairman and CEO of GVG Capital Group, a
private-equity firm based in Minnetonka, and says his job
is a result of “natural progression” throughout the years.
Since the ’90s, Goel, now 37, has had three careers: first
as a management consultant (at New York-based
Deloitte & Touche), then as a senior executive and now
as a private-equity investor.
Through each career, Goel’s responsibilities have grown
from solving one problem at a time as a consultant to
now dealing with the many problems of GVG Capital
Group’s portfolio companies, he said.
He first made headlines by playing a big role in selling
Fingerhut Direct Marketing Inc., then the country’s second-
largest catalog company, to Cincinnati-based Federated
Department Stores in 1999. At 27, the deal made him
millions.
At GVG Capital Group, Goel balances working closely
with management from his portfolio companies and
spending time analyzing and building retail strategies.
He admits 2009’s climate for retail won’t be for the faint-
hearted, but says that later in the year his company will
be able to make investments at good prices.
“We believe this is a very exciting time for retail,” he said.
“We believe this will create opportunities for survivors —
as long as you know what you’re doing and you’re
careful.”
Aside from his job, Goel chairs the board of Chicago-
based Whitney Automotive Group, a catalog and Internet
retailer for auto parts that GVG Capital Group owns.
The Minneapolis/St. Paul
Business Journal "Forty
Under 40" Project
The Minneapolis/St. Paul
Business Journal today
announced its 2009 "Forty
Under 40" honorees.
The award, now in its 16th
year, spotlights 40 of the
region’s top young business
and civic leaders. To be
selected, a candidate must
demonstrate consistent,
outstanding professional
achievement and show a
commitment to community
service as well. Past
recipients include Gov. Tim
Pawlenty, designer Joy
Teiken and Minnesota Twins
President Dave St. Peter.
From the hundreds of
nominations, we’ve selected
40 men and women who
have already accomplished
tremendous things and are
poised to leave their mark on
our region for years to come.
Our class this year includes
the public faces of big
companies and the unseen
players behind the deals..
Profiles of the honorees are
available online at mspbj.
com/40under40.
Business Journal "Forty
Under 40" Project
The Minneapolis/St. Paul
Business Journal today
announced its 2009 "Forty
Under 40" honorees.
The award, now in its 16th
year, spotlights 40 of the
region’s top young business
and civic leaders. To be
selected, a candidate must
demonstrate consistent,
outstanding professional
achievement and show a
commitment to community
service as well. Past
recipients include Gov. Tim
Pawlenty, designer Joy
Teiken and Minnesota Twins
President Dave St. Peter.
From the hundreds of
nominations, we’ve selected
40 men and women who
have already accomplished
tremendous things and are
poised to leave their mark on
our region for years to come.
Our class this year includes
the public faces of big
companies and the unseen
players behind the deals..
Profiles of the honorees are
available online at mspbj.
com/40under40.