Thompson Dean is the Chairman and Co-Head of Avista’s Investment Committee. He previously served as the Managing Partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Avista Capital Partners until transitioning to Chairman in 2022. Prior to co-founding Avista Capital Partners in 2005, Mr. Dean led DLJ Merchant Banking Partners for 10 years. Mr. Dean served as Managing Partner of DLJMB I, II and III and DLJ Growth Capital Partners until his departure in 2005 and was Chairman of their respective Investment Committees.
Mr. Dean received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, where he was an Echols Scholar, and an M.B.A. with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.
Mr. Dean currently serves on the Boards of Cooper Consumer Health, eMolecules, Probo Medical, Terrats Medical, Vision Healthcare and WellSpring Consumer Healthcare. He previously served on the Boards of Acino International, Charles River Laboratories, ConvaTec Group, Fisher Scientific, Nycomed, Trimb Healthcare, VWR and Zest Dental Solutions, among others. He is Former Chairman of the Special Projects Committee of Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and served as a member of the College Foundation Board of the University of Virginia. In addition, Mr. Dean serves on the Lenox Hill Neighborhood Association.