Highland Consumer Partners, a growth-stage venture capital firm focused on the consumer sector, announced that the former CEO of Millennium Partners Sports Club Management, Smaiyra Million, joined the firm as an operating partner.
“I am excited to partner with Highland Consumer and believe I can help the team create value when partnering with growth-stage, consumer-facing companies,” said Million, in a press release. “In evaluating the next step in my career after the successful sale of Millennium, I believed Highland Consumer was a firm where I could contribute my cumulative learnings across a variety of organizations. They have a strong history investing in growth-stage companies in the retail and consumer sectors and I am excited to work with the team both on the front-end and with our portfolio of investments.”
At Millennium Partners Sports Club Management Smaiyra spearheaded the creation of the operating company that managed seven health clubs under the Sports Club/LA and Reebok Sports Club brands, with revenue in excess of $100 million across five states. Equinox acquired the Sports Club/LA properties in New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Washington D.C., as well as the Reebok Sports Club/NY location in New York City, from affiliates of Millennium Partners in July 2015.
Million was originally recruited to The Sports Club/LA in 1998 to become one of the company’s general managers, was promoted to COO in 2006 and ultimately elevated to the CEO position in 2011.
Prior to Millennium, Million spent a decade at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in both operations and sales roles, including international property openings. Million has been named to Boston Business Journals Top 100 Women Led Businesses in Massachusetts in 2011, 2012 and 2013. She was also recognized in 2014 by YW Boston with her induction into the Academy of Women Achievers.
Million currently serves as an “Investor in Residence” for Babson College as well as a Mentor for the Rock Center for Entrepreneurship at Harvard Business School.
“Smaiyra is a world class operator with a specialty in best-in-class customer service and retail operations,” said Peter Cornetta, the managing general partner with Highland, in a press release. “Her experience in managing complex businesses in various functional roles throughout her career is invaluable to our portfolio management activities and our approach to analyzing new transaction opportunities. In the short period of time since Smaiyra has joined our team, she has already had a meaningful impact on our organization and our portfolio.”
