Byron D. Trott

Byron D. Trott is the founder, chairman, and CEO of BDT & Company, a merchant bank that provides advice and long-term capital through its affiliated funds to help family-and founder-led businesses pursue their strategic and financial objectives. The firm works with owners of closely held businesses to find creative solutions to their most complex issues, while providing access to a world-class network of business owners and leaders. The firm’s affiliate, BDT Capital Partners, has deployed $29 billion in capital through its investment funds and co-investments by its global investor base.

Prior to founding BDT & Company in 2009, Byron had a distinguished 27-year career at Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he was Vice Chairman of the global Investment Banking Division from 2005-2009. He is a director of Cox Enterprises, Enterprise Holdings, Inc., Tory Burch LLC, Acrisure Holdings, Culligan International, GoodLeap and Whataburger. He previously served on the boards of Weber-Stephen Products, Hyatt Hotels, Pilot Flying J and Acorn Holdings B.V. and its subsidiary Jacobs, Douwe Egberts and Keurig Dr Pepper.

Byron also serves on the board of trustees of the University of Chicago, the Center for Strategic & International Studies, and Conservation International, as well as the Board of Visitors of MD Anderson Cancer Center. In 2011, Byron was inducted into the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, and having served as President and Chairman, he now serves as Chairman Emeritus of the Association. Byron received an AB from the University of Chicago and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.