The Rise of the Operating Partner

– Baird Capital’s Roberto Ferranti, Riverside’s Jeff Goodman, Excellere’s John Lanier, Northstar Aerospace’s David McConnaughey and Graham’s Dan Soroka help portfolio companies improve processes and trim costs –

Today, operating partners at private equity firms are garnering more attention than CEOs or managing directors. With high valuations and little room for financial finagling in portfolio companies, PE firms are relying on operations experts to add value by increasing the efficiency of day-to-day operations and decreasing the costs of doing business.

Graham Partners’ Dan Soroka provides a good example. With two decades of strong operational experience in the building products industry under his belt, the senior operating partner helps Graham’s portfolio companies shave millions of dollars off the costs of raw materials, leading to profitable exits. Read more.