Since 2006, Christian Luhnow has been the Executive Chairman of HRE Performance Wheels (www.hrewheels.com), where he has successfully introduced new product lines, doubled the company’s production facilities, established an international distribution footprint and led business development efforts.

From 2000-2006, Chris was a founding partner in Evercore’s (www.evercore.com) $100M venture unit, where he led investments in www.atheros.com (ATHR), www.panasas.com and www.lowermybills.com (sold to Experian for $400M), among others.

Prior to Evercore, Chris was President and co-founder of Petstore.com, successfully raising $150M from venture capital firms and strategic partners Discovery Communications and Safeway. Chris built the infrastructure for the company and led all business development efforts including consummating the acquisition of Flying Fish, the largest e-tailer of tropical fish.

Chris’s background also includes experience as CEO of Flightways Manufacturing, as a private equity founder and partner at Beowulf Holdings where he led six investments in a variety of industries, and as a management consultant for Boston Consulting Group.

Chris received a BA in Economics from Stanford University and an MBA from Wharton. Prior to business school, Chris spent two years in Dean Witter’s corporate finance unit in Los Angeles and one year running a family business in Mexico City.