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Sopra Management Team
Franchising at a Higher Level

The Sopra Capital Management Team is a group of well networked executives who have built, sold, managed, operated, developed, raised capital and assisted in merger and acquisition transactions of both large and small franchise organizations and other middle-market companies.

David LeonCavallo
David Leoncavallo
Managing Partner
President
(801)503-9210
david@soprabrands.com 		Leoncavallo is the Founder of Sopra Capital. Prior to founding Sopra, ten years ago he founded and developed an executive recruiting firm focused on franchise recruiting. FranSearch has now become the largest franchising executive search firm in the world. Leoncavallo has consulted with the top ranking executives of over 3,500 franchisors, of which over 350 were clients. These include businesses such as Arby's, Ben and Jerry’s, and TGI Fridays. Leoncavallo assisted these businesses in becoming more profitable and increasing sales. Over the last 10 years, 75 percent of the companies that have completed more than two executive placements with FranSearch doubled in size in less than three years. Leoncavallo has won awards for being in the top 1% in production for Executive Search firms across the country.

Leoncavallo’s relationships and connections in the franchising industry are invaluable to Sopra in growing and developing its franchisors. He brings over 17 years of franchise experience to the Sopra team.

Brian Charlesworth
Brian Charlesworth
Managing Partner
Chief Executive Officer
(801)503-9220
brian@soprabrands.com 		Charlesworth has built and sold multiple companies in the communications, software and energy industries and brings over a decade of executive management to Sopra Capital. Having directed overall business growth for these organizations, Charlesworth’s expertise includes the development, operations and growth of key industry businesses. In addition, Charlesworth raised over $50 million in venture funding through top-tier, billion-dollar funds while serving as the CEO of Talk2 Technology. Charlesworth is also responsible for growing Talk2 Technology to a $300 million valuation which was subsequently sold to IntelliSync, after which acquired by Nokia.

Charlesworth presented as an executive technology leader at investment banking conferences for Robertson Stephens, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley and has also worked with Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Dain Rauscher and Credit Suisse First Boston. Merrill Lynch nominated him for Utah’s Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001. Charlesworth graduated Cum Laude from Utah State University with a double major in Business and German.
Scott Nielsen
VP Mergers and Acquisitions
(801)971-3701
scott@soprabrands.com 		Scott Nielsen joined Sopra Capital in July 2008. Scott brought 6 years of franchising experience with him having been an executive recruiting for FranSearch. He was a leading recruiting with accomplishments such as: Largest Deal in Company History; Most Job Orders 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. Prior to FranSearch Scott incubated and ran multiple small businesses in telemarketing and home service industries. His experience both as a business owner and evaluating franchisors have made him a natural fit for our team.