José E. Feliciano

Early Life and Education

José E. Feliciano was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Growing up, his family emphasized the importance of education. He graduated from Princeton University in 1994 with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. He then pursued an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business, further solidifying his foundation for a career in finance.

Rise to Success

Feliciano began his career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in the mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance groups. He later served as CFO at govWorks and a partner at Tennenbaum Capital. In 2006, he co-founded Clearlake Capital with Behdad Eghbali. Clearlake Capital has grown into a leading private equity firm with over $85 billion in assets under management as of 2024. The firm employs an "O.P.S." approach focusing on Operations, People, and Strategy.

Key Business Strategies

Clearlake Capital focuses on sectors such as technology, industrials, and consumer products. The firm has made numerous investments, including the acquisition of Chelsea Football Club in 2022. Clearlake's strategy includes leveraging buyouts and targeting companies with untapped potential.

Philanthropy

Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, founded the Kwanza Jones & José E. Feliciano Supercharged Initiative, a philanthropic grant-making organization. They have committed over $200 million to various causes, including education and entrepreneurship. In 2020, they donated $20 million to Princeton University to support student housing.