Scott Holley is the executive director of the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, a top-ranked, interdisciplinary division of the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business. He is an entrepreneur and business executive with experience in acquisition entrepreneurship, cross-border manufacturing, and consumer-branded products. In February 2025, he sold his company, Eddyline Kayaks, to Jackson Kayak, of Tennessee. Scott joined Eddyline after leading the search-fund-backed buyout of the company from the founders in June 2017. During his tenure, Eddyline became the No. 1 reviewed kayak brand in the touring and recreational category, according to consumer reviews at paddling.com. Scott led the company’s market expansion into Canada and the development of manufacturing facilities in the US and Mexico. In January 2022, the company received an investment from RZC Partners, a Northwest Arkansas-based private equity investment firm of Steuart and Tom Walton, a leading private investor in high-quality outdoor product companies.

Scott started his career in investment banking and consulting. Scott was a managing director and founding team member of Harken Capital, a boutique investment bank that helps venture capital and private equity clients raise funds to pursue investments in small, growing companies.  Along the way he helped launch several leading investment partnerships in financial services, healthcare, and technology. Prior to Harken, Scott was a strategy consultant for Monitor Group (now Deloitte Consulting) and OCC Strategy Consultants.

Scott holds a BA in finance from the University of Utah, where he was the first student director of the Lassonde New Venture Development Center, and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.

He enjoys spending time with his wife, Ana, and his three children kayaking, hiking, and camping.