Colin Welch (BBA ’92) has been named as one of the 2024 recipients of the Distinguished Business Alumni Award from the Wisconsin School of Business.
This award honors individuals with exceptional careers who have made far-reaching impacts in their community, their industry, and at UW–Madison.
Welch is recognized for his decades of experience and impact in the field of investment banking and private equity, specifically within the retail and consumer sectors. He’s also been a generous philanthropist and key ambassador for WSB within the business community and alumni network.
Welch previously served on WSB’s Dean’s Advisory Board, and in 2020, became one of the first members of the school’s reconstituted External Advisory Board (EAB) and served as the board’s inaugural chair. Along with school leadership and other EAB members, Welch has helped shape WSB’s strategic direction and operational priorities.
“Colin sets the bar for a model alum that we can all aspire to become,” says Carrianne Basler (BBA ’91), managing director of AlixPartners, LLP. “He has built an incredible career, investing in and working with some of the most prominent and interesting consumer brands, and has leveraged his success to give back to WSB with incredible passion and impact. Having served on WSB’s External Advisory Board under his leadership as board chair, I have seen him help shape the school’s engagement of industry and alumni and advise the school on everything from program innovation to navigating a pandemic.”
As partner and managing director at TSG Consumer Partners, Welch evaluates and generates new investment opportunities, structures transactions, and works with TSG’s partner companies: a list that includes Core Power Yoga, Revolution Beauty, Cadogan Tate, Summer Fridays, and more. He oversees and manages TSG’s offices in New York and London, and is a member of the company’s investment committee.
“Colin sets the bar for
—Carrianne Basler (BBA ’91), managing director of AlixPartners, LLP
a model alum that we can all aspire to become.”
Prior to his work at TSG, Welch served as president and chief operating officer of Financo, LLC, and chief executive officer of the firm’s London-based European operation. He has also held investment banking roles with numerous other firms, including Credit Suisse Europe, Lehman Brothers Europe, J.P. Morgan, and Montgomery Securities. Before launching his career in investment banking, Welch held various roles at Neiman Marcus Stores.
Welch is a past board member of the Educational Foundation of the Fashion Institute of Technology and currently serves on the board of the Parsons School of Design. In addition to his undergraduate degree from UW–Madison, Welch holds an MBA from the Harvard Business School.
Read about the other 2024 WSB Alumni Award recipients.
From the Dean
“Colin was among the first alumni I met when I joined WSB and his enthusiasm for the school and thoughtfulness as a leader has been a great gift to me in my first years as dean. With Colin’s partnership, we redefined the role and stature of the school’s advisory board and are beginning to transform how the school connects with industry.”