Lance Contento

Lance Contento is a Partner at Three Hills Capital Partners, a pan-European and North American private capital firm that provides "bespoke capital solutions" ranging from senior debt to preferred equity for mid-market, founder-led businesses. He joined the firm in January 2016 and has held progressively senior roles (Investment Manager, Managing Director, Senior Managing Director, and Partner). He was instrumental in establishing and building Three Hills' New York office and is currently based in the United States, having previously worked out of the firm's London base.

Before Three Hills, Contento spent his early career in structured and special-situations investing. He worked as an Analyst and then Associate in Goldman Sachs' Special Situations Group, was an Analyst at Cogent Partners (a secondaries advisory firm), and interned in investment banking at Banc of America Securities. This background in credit, special situations, and downside-protected structures aligns closely with Three Hills' hybrid preferred-capital strategy.

Contento holds a BA in Economics from the University of Chicago and a dual Master of Business Administration and Master in Advanced Finance from IE Business School in Madrid. He is a CFA Charterholder. He has served as a board member for several Three Hills portfolio companies, including Byron Hamburgers, WPI Group, and Pelostop (Grupo Stop).

• Invests through Three Hills' flexible, downside-protected capital structures — a "full spectrum" from senior debt to preferred equity and hybrid instruments — rather than traditional control buyouts or early-stage equity.
• Targets established, cash-generative mid-market companies in Europe and North America, typically led by entrepreneurs and management teams who want to retain control of their businesses while funding growth, M&A, or shareholder liquidity.
• Emphasizes active, hands-on value creation — Three Hills highlights supporting portfolio companies through 60+ M&A acquisitions and expansion into 70+ new geographies.
• Sector-agnostic but with demonstrated conviction in food & beverage, consumer/retail, and healthcare services (e.g., truffle products, restaurants, aesthetic/hair-removal clinics).
• On the Sabatino Tartufi deal, Contento framed the thesis as backing "already strong growth momentum" in a category and supporting "the Company's future development, notably in Europe" — a pattern of partnering with a market leader to accelerate international expansion.