Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking chords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination.  It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful. 

Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking chords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination.  It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful. 

Branding demands commitment; commitment to continual re-invention; striking chords with people to stir their emotions; and commitment to imagination.  It is easy to be cynical about such things, much harder to be successful. 

SIR RICHARD BRANSON 

Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves. 

Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves. 

Get closer than ever to your customers. So close, in fact, that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves. 

STEVE JOBS 

What we are... 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We are a unique collective of brand-passionate, operating and investment professionals with broad and complementary skill sets that in today’s world truly .matter 
We are a unique collective of brand-passionate, operating and investment professionals with broad and complementary skill sets that in today’s world truly .matter 

We integrate... 

 
 
 
 
Growth Capital 
Brand Consultancy 
Business Advisory 
 
We help existing businesses and incubate brands that inspire meaningful engagement with customers and build communities. 
Growth Capital 
Brand Consultancy 
Business Advisory 
 
We help existing businesses and incubate brands that inspire meaningful engagement with customers and build communities. 

Who we are... 

RUSSELL STERNLICHT (USA) CEO | .matter 

Experience (30+ years) 
CEO/PDG, 
Groupe Taittinger 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Champagne Taittinger 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Cristallerie Baccarat 
 
Chairman, 
Parfums Annick Goutal 
 
Managing Director, EMEA 
Starwood Capital Group Global 
 
SVP, Global Corporate Development, 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts 
 
Managing Director, 
Montgomery Securities 
 
Principal, 
Bessemer Partners (now Goldberg, Lindsay) 

HABIB BEAINI (UAE) Managing Partner | .matter by design 

Experience (25+ years) 
Founder & Managing Partner, 
Ninth Space Brand Consultancy 
 
Managing Partner, 
Fitch (WPP) UAE 
 
Managing Director, 
Getty Images (Middle East) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

KEN SHEN (Malaysia) Senior Advisor 

Experience (25+ years) 
Chairman, 
Astro Holdings 
 
Executive Director - Investments, 
Khasanah Nasional Berhad 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Qatar Holdings 
 
Managing Director & Co-Head - Corporate Finance, Citigroup (APAC) 
 
Managing Director & Co-Head - Corporate Finance, Salomon Brothers (APAC) 
 
Managing Director and Head of M&A, 
Smith Barney (APAC) 
 
Principal, 
Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking 

GABLE GAO (China) Senior Advisor 

Experience (25+ years) 
Co-Founder, 
MTech Information Technology 
 
Partner, Solitaire Partners 
 
Managing Partner, 
ZheJiang United Investment Group 
 
Managing Director, Fosun Group and Fosun Capital Group 
 
Managing Director & Head of China, 
Istithmar World 
 
Senior Vice President, 
Dexia Credit 
 
Principal, 
Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking 
 
 
 

RUSSELL STERNLICHT (USA) 

Experience (30+ years) 
CEO/PDG, 
Groupe Taittinger 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Champagne Taittinger 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Cristallerie Baccarat 
 
Chairman, 
Parfums Annick Goutal 
 
Managing Director, 
DrKW 
 
SVP, Global Corporate Development, 
Starwood Hotels & Resorts 
 
Managing Director, 
Montgomery Securities 
 
Principal, 
Bessemer Partners (now Goldberg, Lindsay) 

HABIB BEAINI (UAE) 

Experience (25+ years) 
Founder & Managing Partner, 
Ninth Space Brand Consultancy 
 
Managing Partner, 
Fitch (WPP) UAE 
 
Managing Director, 
Getty Images (Middle East) 

KEN SHEN (Malaysia) 

Experience (25+ years) 
Chairman, 
Astro Holdings 
 
Executive Director - Investments, 
Khasanah Nasional Berhad 
 
Vice Chairman, 
Qatar Holdings 
 
Managing Director & Co-Head - Corporate Finance, Citigroup (APAC) 
 
Managing Director & Co-Head - Corporate Finance, Salomon Brothers (APAC) 
 
Managing Director and Head of M&A, 
Smith Barney (APAC) 
 
Principal, 
Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking 

GABLE GAO (China) 

Co-Founder, 
MTech Information Technology 
 
Partner, Solitaire Partners 
 
Managing Partner, 
ZheJiang United Investment Group 
 
Managing Director, Fosun Group and Fosun Capital Group 
 
Managing Director & Head of China, 
Istithmar World 
 
Senior Vice President, 
Dexia Credit 
 
Principal, 
Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking 
 
 

What we know... 

Food & Beverage 

 
 
 
 
 

Luxury Goods 

 
 
 
 
 

Health &  Wellbeing 

 
 
 
 
 

Packaged Food 

 
 
 
 
 

Hospitality & Leisure 

 
 
 
 
 

Specialty Retail 

 
 
 
 
 

Where we’ve worked... 

Where we’ve worked... 

United States 
Canada 
Mexico 
United Kingdom 
France 
Germany 
Italy 
Switzerland 
Greece 
Spain 
Scandinavia 
Russia 
Turkey 
South Africa 
Morocco 
Egypt 
Nigeria 
Saudi Arabia 
UAE 
Kuwait 
Qatar 
Oman 
Bahrain 
Jordan 
Lebanon 
China 
India 
Malaysia 
Indonesia 
Japan 
Pakistan 
Kazakhstan 
Laos 
Myanmar 
Singapore 
South Korea 
Sri Lanka 
Bangladesh 
Cambodia 
Australia 
United States 
Canada 
Mexico 
Australia 
United Kingdom 
France 
Germany 
Italy 
Switzerland 
Greece 
Spain 
Scandinavia 
Russia 
Turkey 
South Africa 
Morocco 
Egypt 
Nigeria 
Saudi Arabia 
UAE 
Kuwait 
Qatar 
Oman 
Bahrain 
Jordan 
Lebano 
China 
India 
Malaysia 
Indonesia 
Japan 
Pakistan 
Kazakhstan 
Laos 
Myanmar 
Singapore 
South Korea 
Sri Lanka 
Bangladesh 
Cambodia 

What we’ve done... 

In our 120 years combined careers we have advised, helped, built and/or led over 200 renowned brands and businesses including: 
In our 120 years combined careers we have advised, helped, built and/or led over 200 renowned brands and businesses including: 
 

We believe... 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
01 
 
 
 
02 
 
 
 
03 
 
 
 
04 
 
 
 
01 
 
 
Not all brands matter and our mission is to help make them matter to everyone they serve. 
02 
 
 
Business can and should matter as a force for good in this world. 
03 
 
 
Business should scale in a way which matters, through sustainable choices and purposeful involvement. 
04 
 
 
Great brands connect with people. Businesses do not. 
 
 

Say hello... 

 
 
We’re always happy to hear from anyone interested in getting to know more 
about us, and we always share with our network information and insights on 
brands and ideas that matter. So, take the first step and we’ll be in touch shortly. 
Otherwise you can always call or email us: 
+1 (617) 999 2212 | hello@know-matter.com 
Otherwise you can always call or email us: 
 
+1 (617) 999 2212 
hello@know-matter.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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