J. Christopher Burch
J. Christopher Burch | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 28, 1953 Wayne, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, venture capitalist |
| Known for | Founder and CEO of Burch Creative Capital; co-founder of Tory Burch LLC |
J. Christopher Burch (born March 28, 1953) is an American entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Burch Creative Capital, a New York City-based firm specializing in venture capital and brand development. He is a co-founder of Tory Burch LLC and actively invests in the fashion, hospitality, and technology industries. Since initiating his first business, Eagle Eye, Burch has been involved with numerous brands such as Staud, BaubleBar, NIHI Sumba, Guggenheim Partners, Tory Burch, Voss, Win Brands, Rappi, Danielle Guizio, Solid & Striped, Urbanic, Thursday Boots, SuperOrdinary, Barber Surgeon Guild, Faena Hotel + Universe, Jawbone, and Poppin.
Early life
Raised in Wayne, Pennsylvania within a middle-class household, Burch’s mother, Robin Sinkler—a Philadelphia Main Line Episcopalian—and his father, John Walter Burch—a Roman Catholic from Baltimore—owned a business distributing mining equipment. He completed his secondary education at Tilton School in New Hampshire in 1972 before attending Ithaca College.
Fashion industry
In 1976, while studying at Ithaca College, Burch and his brother Robert launched Eagle's Eye apparel with an initial $2,000 investment. They purchased sweaters at $10 each and sold them for $15. Burch arranged manufacturing for a new "preppy" sweater line and marketed the products directly to students on campus. The enterprise expanded to additional campuses and retail outlets. Over the following decade, Eagle's Eye achieved $140 million in revenue and established a nationwide distribution network encompassing more than 50 stores. The Swire Group acquired a partial stake in 1989 and completed full ownership in 1998, valuing the brand at $60 million.
In 2004, Burch collaborated with his then-wife to co-found the Tory Burch fashion brand and served as co-Chairman. Holding a 28.3% stake in the company, he sold half of his shares in December 2012 when the brand’s valuation reached $3.5 billion. In 2008, he created J. Christopher Capital LLC—later rebranded as Burch Creative Capital—to foster new brands and oversee investments. He introduced C. Wonder in 2011, a retailer offering apparel, accessories, and home décor. The C. Wonder brand was acquired by Xcel Brands in July 2015.
Real estate
In 2004, Burch joined forces with architect Philippe Starck and hotelier Alan Faena to redevelop the Faena Hotel+Universe in Buenos Aires by investing over $100 million to renovate a former grain storage building dating back to 1902. A decade later, he expanded his involvement by purchasing a condominium at Faena House in South Beach.
In 2005, he acquired a luxury residence in Southampton, New York for $14 million and sold it four months later for $25 million following renovations. The following year, he founded J.B. Christopher to supply construction materials to real estate developers. In 2011, alongside partner Austin Hearst, he completed luxury home projects valued at $19 million in Nantucket, Massachusetts. In 2012, Burch bought a townhouse in the West Village for $11 million; after extensive renovations, he put it back on the market.
In 2013, together with James McBride, Burch purchased the Nihiwatu resort on Sumba Island in Indonesia. After investing $30 million into the property’s refurbishment, they reopened it as NIHI in 2015, positioning it as a top-tier luxury destination.
Additional Investments
In 1993, Burch took on the role of producer for the romantic comedy Watch It, which earned positive feedback from the New York Times. He was among the initial investors during the IPO of Internet Capital Group and placed capital in telecommunications firms such as Aliph and Powermat. Furthermore, Burch backed the online office supplies retailer Poppin. In 2014, he spearheaded a $10 million funding round for BaubleBar and collaborated with Ellen DeGeneres to introduce her lifestyle brand, E.D.
Personal Background
Burch entered into marriage with Susan Cole in 1982; together they had three daughters: Alexandra "Pookie" (born 1985), Elizabeth "Izzie" (born 1986), and Louisa "Weezie" (born 1989). Following their separation, he wed fashion designer Tory Robinson in 1996. The couple had three sons: twins Henry and Nicholas (born 1997) and Sawyer (born 2001). Their marriage ended in divorce in 2006.
He has held the position of president at The Pierre Hotel Co-op Board and served on the boards of Guggenheim Partners as well as The Continuum Group. In 2013, Burch contributed $1.3 million to his former school, Tilton School, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees from 1982 until 1985.