GCP-backed Equine Network expands board with an addition

The Equine Network, a member-based platform for the North American equine industry, has named Kylie Wright-Ford to its board of directors. She is currently CEO of RepTrak. Equine Network is backed by Growth Catalyst Partners.

PRESS RELEASE

Boulder, CO, March 30, 2021: The Equine Network (“Equine Network”), the market leading recurring membership-based platform to the $130 billion North American equine industry, has appointed Kylie Wright-Ford to the Company’s Board of Directors.

Wright-Ford, a life-long equestrian, brings significant board room experience and a track record of driving revenue growth, leading strategic value creation initiatives with membership-based businesses, and building great teams in global settings. She is currently CEO of RepTrak, a leading reputation data and insights company. She was previously the Chief Operating and Strategy Officer for World 50, a company that manages private peer communities enabling CEOs and C-level executives from globally respected organizations to stay ahead. Wright-Ford is the co-author of a book about leadership in the fourth industrial revolution, The Leadership Mind Switch, and lived and worked in Australia and the UK before coming to the US. Kylie’s equestrian passion also started as a youth in Australia, and she has owned horses and competed in both English and Western disciplines.

“We are thrilled to have someone of Kylie’s tremendous experience and passion for the equine market and sport. Her track record in building world-class membership organizations adds valuable insight and skills to the Equine Network,” said Equine Network’s CEO, Tom Winsor.

Equine Network serves more than 200,000 active members across the North American equine industry on a recurring annual basis. The Company’s offerings include member-only competitions, roadside assistance, all-natural insect control, online learning, and other proprietary information services. Underpinning the organization is a leading technology platform and the largest proprietary first-party customer database covering the equestrian industry.

In December 2020, Equine Network was acquired by Growth Catalyst Partners (GCP), in a corporate carve-out from Active Interest Media, Inc. In January 2021, Equine Network announced the acquisition of Spalding Laboratories, a leading provider of all-natural insect control services to more than 60,000 horse and animal owners on a recurring annual basis across the U.S. Equine Network will continue to build and acquire additional services and solutions to enable its current and future members to enjoy and participate in the equestrian industry more easily.

Wright-Ford said, “Joining the board of The Equine Network allows me to bring both professional and personal expertise to bear on an exciting market opportunity. The team at Equine Network are positioned to succeed with a clear vision, a big market, ambitious technology plans and a robust membership model designed for equine enthusiasts across multiple essential services for their horses and riders.”

About The Equine Network
The Equine Network’s membership services are designed to entertain, support and inform the equine community, and include unique tech-enabled services for horse owners, live equestrian events, innovative content, and engaging digital experiences.

About Growth Catalyst Partners
Growth Catalyst Partners (“GCP”) is a middle market buyout firm focused on rapidly growing information, marketing, and tech-enabled services businesses. Founded in 2017, GCP has acquired over 30 businesses pursuing its strategy targeting growth segments of industries and identifying market-leading companies with breakout potential. GCP partners with top executives within those industries and provides capital and expertise to the incumbent management teams of the targeted businesses. The GCP team is led by veteran Managing Partners Jim TenBroek and Scott Peters, who have led hundreds of transactions and successful investments in services businesses for over 20 years. For more information, visit www.growthcatalystpartners.com.