February 15, 2022

LNK Partners will act as strategic advisors with a focus on accelerating omnichannel growth.

Today, comfort-focused lifestyle brand Tommy John announces that Manny Chirico and David Landau of LNK Partners have joined the brand’s Board of Directors as a part of the private equity firm’s minority investment in the company. Chirico has also made a personal, undisclosed investment in the company. In addition to joining the board and investing in the brand, Chirico has also been named Chair of the Board’s retail committee, advising on the brands’ omnichannel strategy as it relates to wholesale launches, retail store expansion, and brand evolution. Tom Patterson, Co-founder & CEO of Tommy John alongside his wife and Co-founder, Erin Fujimoto, will continue to lead the business.

“LNK Partners is fortunate to have a long and successful track record of backing founder-led businesses,” says Landau, Co-founder and Partner at LNK Partners. “Over the last 13 years, Tom and Erin have built an incredible business with industry-leading products for men and women. We’re thrilled to join the team and look forward to helping them build on this great foundation of success.”

“The comfort category has emerged in a powerful way over the last two years,” adds Chirico, former CEO of PVH and now a Partner at LNK Partners. “I’m so impressed with how Tommy John has navigated this moment as a leader in comfort. As we look toward the future of the business, I’m proud to advise Tommy John as it accelerates its physical distribution and continues to evolve as the most beloved and accessible brand for all things comfort.”

Under Patterson’s and Fujimoto’s leadership, Tommy John has been profitable since its launch. They established a thriving DTC e-commerce business and have continued to leverage wholesale partnerships and retail experiences as core pillars for growth. Today, Tommy John, headquartered in New York City, is carried in over 1,300 points of wholesale distribution and has five owned retail stores. Tommy John’s omnichannel business has more than tripled over the last five years.

“Since day one Tommy John has valued the importance of being an omnichannel business,” says Patterson.

“We believe in showing up wherever our customers are and providing them with more comfortable solutions for their daily lives. Together we’ve learned to adapt to the evolving landscape and leverage our DTC data to influence our omnichannel strategy. We have developed a tremendous understanding of our customers and their shopping behaviors. With this data and Manny’s extensive experience as a true retail pioneer, we’re well positioned to grow and expand our loyal customer base both online and in-store.”

“Our product strategy is set to accelerate innovative solutions over the next several years through a more inclusive and versatile approach,” adds Fujimoto. “We have several new product introductions and partnerships slated for 2022 and beyond and we’re thrilled to have David and Manny join the team as true thought partners in this next chapter of growth.”

About Tommy John

Tommy John is a comfort-focused lifestyle brand committed to addressing the real problems that men and women have with their clothing. Each product contains proprietary fabrics, innovative fit, and functionality that eliminates unnecessary discomfort and adjustments. Tommy John launched in 2008 with the world’s first patented undershirt with a stay-tucked guarantee and has since expanded into underwear, bras, loungewear, and apparel. Tommy John products can be found in over 1,300 retail locations including Nordstrom, Dillard’s, Bloomingdale’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and in Tommy John stores in SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, Scottsdale Fashion Square in Scottsdale, Arizona, The Houston Galleria in Houston, Texas, The Mall at Green Hills in Nashville, Tennessee, Southlake Town Square just outside of Dallas, Texas, and online at tommyjohn.com.

About LNK Partners

LNK Partners is a private equity firm focused on backing strong management teams who are building outstanding consumer and retail businesses. LNK’s partners have extensive experience successfully investing in or operating many leading consumer and retail businesses including Calvin Klein/Tommy Hilfiger/PVH, Life Time, Beachbody, Quaker Oats, Pepsi, Staples, Gatorade, Ariat, Niman Ranch, Campbell’s, Godiva, Fitness Connection, and Yankee Candle.

LNK is further distinguished by the high degree of flexibility in the type, structure, and size of its investments, and its willingness to be a minority or majority shareholder. LNK invests in a broad range of investment types, including growth capital, buyouts, recapitalizations, and PIPEs.