Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) today announced that Michael J. Silverstein has been retained as an Operating Executive consultant with the Global Consumer & Retail group effective January 2, 2017. Mr. Silverstein is retiring at year-end as Senior Partner and Managing Director at Boston Consulting Group.

As an Operating Executive, Mr. Silverstein will provide strategic guidance to Carlyle professionals throughout the investment process and will advise portfolio company executives on management, operational, branding and growth strategies. He joins a group of 29 senior business executives – with an average of 40 years of experience – who help Carlyle invest wisely and create value across a range of industries. Mr. Silverstein will also continue to devote time to various roles outside of the firm.

Jay Sammons, Carlyle Managing Director and Head of the Global Consumer & Retail group, said, ”We are excited to work with Michael as we find, assess and execute investments in this dynamic space. Michael is a thought leader whose industry relationships, deep experience and thoughtful perspective will be enormously helpful to Carlyle.”

Mr. Silverstein is an expert in consumer packaged goods and retail. He is the author of five books on consumers and has extensively studied the buying behavior of women, emerging market consumers and Millennials. He joined BCG in 1980 and has served in various capacities, including as head of the firm’s global consumer practice, its client service initiative, and the firm’s executive committee. He has led the firm’s relationships with multinational product and retail clients.

Mr. Silverstein said, ”I am delighted at the chance to assist Carlyle in identifying new opportunities and working with portfolio companies to create value in a private equity setting. I look forward to working with Jay and his team, leveraging my experience to help businesses grow, understand consumer needs and dissatisfactions, respond to shifts in markets, and innovate.”

Since inception, Carlyle has invested approximately $12 billion of equity in 76 transactions in the consumer and retail space, including Dunkin’ Brands, philosophy, CVC, NBTY, Beats, Vogue and Acosta.

Mr. Silverstein joined BCG in 1980 and has been Senior Partner and Managing Director since 1993. He has advised the CEOs of multi-billion-dollar global companies and helped start and build BCG’s consumer practice, now its largest. Mr. Silverstein is the principal author of five books, including “Trading Up,” focused on the trend of middle class consumers purchasing “masstige” luxury goods; “Women Want More,” about the buying and product needs of women around the globe; “The Ten Trillion Dollar Prize,” about emerging market consumption informed by his six months living in India and China; and “Rocket: Eight Lessons to Secure Infinite Growth,” published in late 2015 and translated into six languages. He received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in economics and history from Brown University. He is a member of the Board of Directors of FTD Cos. Inc.

About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $169 billion of assets under management across 125 funds and 177 fund of funds vehicles as of September 30, 2016. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,625 people in 35 offices across six continents.