Mercato Expands Investment Team to Include Former MarketStar Executive

SALT LAKE CITY, UT--(Marketwired - Jan 29, 2014) - Mercato Partners, a trusted capital partner for high growth companies, is pleased to announce the recent addition of Aaron Hall, former Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Client Services at MarketStar Corporation, to the Mercato investment team. Hall, a recognized expert in building best-in-class sales methodologies and organizations, will add significant sales, marketing and executive leadership acumen to Mercato's seasoned team of financial and industry professionals providing sales leadership and support to rapidly growing companies.

With over twenty two years of experience in sales and executive management, Hall has worked with high profile companies such as IBM, Intel, HP and Cisco to build direct sales organizations, support outsourced sales efforts, develop new sales and marketing channels and advance business expansion to international markets. As former COO of MarketStar, he directed the successful launch of company operations in Latin America, Asia Pacific and EMEA. With his oversight, MarketStar revenues grew 250% from 2005 to 2012.

"For four years, our team had the benefit of working closely with Aaron as a Mercato Operating Partner on joint projects for our growing portfolio companies," said Greg Warnock, Managing Director of Mercato Partners. "As a Mercato Operating Partner, Aaron's sales insight enabled him to quickly uncover areas of business opportunity to drive revenue growth. We are looking forward to leveraging Aaron's unmatched expertise for the benefit of our portfolio companies on a full-time basis."

In addition to his role as Investment Director at Mercato Partners, Hall serves as Executive Director of the Alan E. Hall Center for Sales Excellence at Weber State University. As Executive Director, Hall provides guidance regarding best practices and methodologies in the disciplines of sales and channel development. Hall's role at the center will directly benefit Mercato portfolio companies with access to the leading academics, current research and extensive resources provided by Weber State University.

ABOUT MERCATO PARTNERS

Mercato Partners, an expansion stage private equity firm, focuses on accelerating the growth of technology, digital media and consumer/retail companies. With decades of collective experience in finance, sales, marketing and assembling talented teams, Mercato Partners helps companies find momentum in developing go-to-market strategies, building sales organizations and expanding into new channels and geographies. The Salt Lake City-based firm has partnered with market leading companies such as Fusion-io, Skullcandy, Stance, DOMO, and Control4. For more information, please visit www.mercatopartners.com.