Private Equity Exec Theodore Ammon Found Slain

Private equity executive Theodore Ammon, who ran the firm Chancery Lane Capital, was found slain last week at his East Hampton, N.Y., home.

Suffolk County police said the 52-year-old Ammon died of blunt trauma, and have opened up a murder investigation. Police also said Mark Angelson, a lawyer and colleague of Ammon’s at Chancery, discovered the body. Angelson had traveled to Ammon’s home in the exclusive Long Island community after his colleague failed to show up at a business meeting in midtown Manhattan.

After leaving his general partner position with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in 1992, Ammon founded Big Flower Press, now called Vertis, which prints newspaper and advertising inserts and direct-mail advertising and has $1.9 billion in revenue. He then went on to found Chancery Lane Capital.

Just three months ago, Ammon was elected non-executive chairman of Moore Corp. Ltd., which supplies document formatted information, print outsourcing and data-based marketing for international customers.

Moore President and CEO Robert G. Burton, who knew Ammon for more than 12 years, said, “I am stunned and saddened [by his passing]. Ted was a respected business associate and a close personal friend. I mourn his passing, however, I am grateful for and will fondly remember the time we spent together.”

In addition to his East Hampton residence, Ammon had a home in Manhattan.

He is survived by his two school-age children and his wife.

In addition to his businesses, Ammon served on the board of several companies, including Host Marriott Corp.

Ammon also was chairman of jazz at Lincoln Center.

“The amazing thing about Ted Ammon was, even though he was very successful in the competitive world of business, he managed to face each day with the enthusiasm of a Little Leaguer on game day,” Wynton Marsalis, artistic director of jazz at Lincoln Center, said in a prepared statement. “His perspective was extremely optimistic and his demeanor very youthful.”

Contact Ken Ryan at: Kennth.Ryan@tfn.com