Our Founder

Francis X Acunzo is the co-founder and CEO of Acara Partners, a consulting agency for the aesthetic medical industry, and a senior advisor to the Board of Directors at Princeton Medspa Partners, an industry consolidation group that currently owns and operates 10 medical spas throughout the country. Fran also holds a seat on the MedEsthetics Editorial Advisory Board and was recently presented the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by The Aesthetic Guide and the ‘Distinguished Partner Award’ by Sciton. He is an experienced public speaker for aesthetic medical industry events, a regular contributor to publications and a guest on podcasts and radio broadcasts.

Francis and his wife, Colleen, launched the very first medical spa 25 years ago through the merger of their Boston-based spa company and a leading laser company. As a business owner, board member, investor and public speaker, Fran has displayed critical business perspective and an ability to provide visionary leadership. He has extensive experience with acquisitions, start-ups and turnaround businesses.

In 1999, Francis had the vision to create the industry’s first consolidation of spas, aggregating almost $50M in annual revenue through the acquisition of 24 of the best spas in top U.S. markets; in 2004, Francis launched Acara Partners, the first business consultancy dedicated to aesthetic medical industry; in 2005, he took the first corporate owned chain of medical spas out of bankruptcy and sold it within 18 months; and in 2008, Acara Partners expanded to include marketing strategy, making it the first full-service business consulting and marketing agency focused on the aesthetic medical industry. Throughout the decades, Francis has worked with more than 350 aesthetic medical practices. Francis has executed more than 36 business acquisitions.

Francis holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Providence College and resides on the Connecticut Shoreline with his wife, Colleen. Outside of work, his passions include healthy cooking, tennis and travel.