Francisco Partners’ Christine Wang has demonstrated her technical expertise, quick wit and confidence by leading some of the most complex deals in the San Francisco firm’s history, including the multifaceted carveout of Quest Software from Dell Software Group, which FP acquired in 2016.
“Christine is someone you can count on to drive something to the finish line – she balances rigor with pragmatism, has great investment judgment and knows how to dig in effectively to get to the right answer,” says Dipanjan “DJ” Deb, co-founder and CEO. “She has also earned the trust and respect of our management teams with her direct, approachable style.”
Wang joined the private equity industry after spending three years in the financial institution’s group at J.P. Morgan. “It was there that I got exposure to a number of private equity firms and had the opportunity to see different buyers reach very different conclusions on how they could make an investment successful,” explains Wang. “Firms had varied investing approaches, and I found this very dynamic and intriguing.”
Prior to joining FP in 2015, Wang worked at PE firm Advent International, where she evaluated private equity investments in the business services, financial services and technology sectors. In early 2019, FP promoted her to principal from vice president. “My favorite part of my job is working with a wide variety of management teams,” Wang says.
“One of the things I really appreciate about Francisco Partners is the firm’s focus on professional development and continuous improvement,” Wang says. “This includes exposure to a wide variety of real-life deal experiences, as well as training programs and workshops focused on cultivating things like management skills and executive presence. Since day one at FP, I have always enjoyed having a seat at the table and on the boards of my portfolio companies.”
Wang served as deal quarterback for FP’s carveout of Quest Software from Dell Software Group. Quest Solutions helps companies of all sizes reduce the time and money they spend on IT administration and security, so they have more time to focus on, and invest in, business innovation. “I’m very proud that we were able to return that business to growth and foster an accelerated cadence of new product releases,” Wang says.
She also led FP’s acquisition of a majority stake in Prometheus Group, a provider of enterprise asset management software. “In less than three years, I helped lead four add-on acquisitions (the company’s first ever M&A transactions), which broadened the platform and helped the company better serve its customers.”
Wang has developed into a significant ambassador for the firm. She co-led FP’s associate recruiting efforts in 2018 and is recognized as a mentor and sponsor for many of FP’s vice presidents and associates.
“Christine is very generous with her time and truly has a people-first attitude in everything she does,” says co-president Ezra Perlman. Wang is also involved in investment professional networks and leads IWin, a group of women investors.
