Who Is Tristan Walker? Meet the Founder Behind Bevel and Walker & Company

Tristan Walker is an American entrepreneur, investor, and brand builder. He is best known as the founder of Walker & Company Brands, which created Bevel, a grooming brand aimed at Black men and people of color who have often been overlooked by mainstream personal care companies. Born in Queens, New York, on July 5, 1984, Walker built his career in Wall Street, Silicon Valley, and consumer goods before turning his personal grooming challenges into a successful business.

From Queens to Silicon Valley

Walker’s journey follows a classic American business story that many founders discuss but few experience in such a clear way. He grew up in Queens, earned a scholarship to Hotchkiss, graduated as valedictorian from Stony Brook University with an economics degree in 2005, and later earned his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2010.

Before becoming an entrepreneur, he worked in finance at Lehman Brothers and J.P. Morgan, then moved to the tech sector. At Foursquare, he was the director of business development from 2009 to 2012, overseeing partnerships with major brands and media companies like American Express, CNN, MTV, Starbucks, and The New York Times.

Why He Created Bevel

The idea for Bevel came from his own experiences. Walker faced years of shaving irritation and noticed a gap in the market: Black men were spending money on grooming, but many products did not meet their skin and hair needs.

Walker & Company launched in 2013 in Palo Alto, with Bevel as its flagship brand. The company later introduced FORM Beauty, a hair-care line for women with curly and coily hair. EBSCO describes Walker & Company as a health and beauty business focused on making products for people of color.

Walker stated the mission clearly: “I decided that people of color deserved better.”

The P&G Acquisition Event

The key moment for the business came in December 2018, when Procter & Gamble acquired Walker & Company. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the acquisition brought Bevel into one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and made Walker the first Black CEO under the P&G brand.

For Walker, the deal was about growth, not giving up. He said P&G provided the company with the ability to reach more people while keeping its mission intact. P&G noted that the acquisition would help it “better serve consumers of color around the world.”

Why Tristan Walker Matters

Walker’s story matters because he turned a neglected consumer issue into a pioneering company. Bevel transitioned from a direct-to-consumer model to major retailers like Target, CVS, Walmart, and Sally Beauty while branching into skincare, body care, and hair care.

He also helped broaden the dialogue about representation in technology and business. He founded CODE2040, a program that connects high-achieving Black and Latino engineering students with opportunities in Silicon Valley.

Where Is Tristan Walker Now?

According to current corporate profiles, Walker is a director at Shake Shack, the founder of Heirloom Management Co., and the former CEO of Walker & Company Brands, a position he held until June 2023. He also served on Foot Locker’s board from 2020 to 2025.

His core message remains steady: build from authenticity, serve real communities, and let values drive growth. As he once said, “There is no purpose in life without values.”