Origin Merchant Partners Acquires Consensus to Expand U.S. Footprint

Consensus founder Michael A. O’Hara will transition into the role of Chair for Origin U.S., overseeing the newly minted Consensus Consumer division. This strategic alignment integrates Consensus’s deep experience in apparel, beauty, and luxury goods with Origin’s existing North American platform. The firm aims to leverage this combined expertise to handle increasingly complex M&A mandates for founder-led and private equity-backed brands.

Consensus brings a robust track record of advising on high-profile transactions, including the sale of Everlane to SHEIN and the acquisition of Lionel Trains by Round2. The merger formalizes a working relationship that previously flourished through the Terra Alliance, most notably during the 2025 sale of Spence Diamonds. With offices now spanning major hubs like Boston, New York, Chicago, and Toronto, the firm intends to provide a unified advisory model that balances boutique-style attention with a broader geographic footprint.