2017's Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A
The second edition of Mergers & Acquisitions' special report celebrates 35 leading female transaction professionals, including: Kristina Heinze, Venita Fields and AUA Private Equity Partners' Astrid Soto.
Marilyn Adler: Managing Director, Medley Capital
Sphere of Influence: Heads Medley Capital's SBIC fund, contributes to the SBIA and ACG New York, and lobbies on behalf of the middle market on Capitol Hill
Molly Ashby: CEO, Solera Capital
Sphere of Influence: Bets big on companies cherished by and often run by women, including macaroni and cheese maker Annie's Inc.
Andrea Auerbach: Managing Director, Global Head, Private Investment Research, Cambridge Associates
Sphere of Influence: Evaluates funds for investment and co-investment opportunities on behalf of the firm’s private equity clients
Karen Bechtel: Managing Director, Carlyle Group
Sphere of Influence: Co-heads global healthcare for Carlyle and has invested approximately $2 billion of equity in companies around the world over the past 10 years
Chrisanne Corbett: Managing Director, KPMG
Sphere of Influence: Spearheads U.S. industrials transactions and co-leads the audit, tax and advisory firm’s equity coverage team
Catherine Dargan: Partner, Covington & Burling
Sphere of Influence: Co-leads M&A practice and serves on the law firm’s management committee
Carey Davidson: Managing Director, Head of Capital Markets, Monroe Capital
Sphere of Influence: Initiated Monroe’s capital markets function, leads buy-side club originations, relationship management, and marketing as well as sell-side syndications
Robin Engelson: Managing Partner, Founder, Sapphire Financial Group
Sphere of Influence: Founder and managing partner; holds nearly 32 years of experience in lending and investment banking; and serves on several executive boards
Venita Fields: Partner, Pelham S2K Managers
Sphere of Influence: President of ACG Chicago; has structured, closed or managed about $2 billion in investments in the automotive, aviation, environmental, food, industrial, manufacturing, retail and service sectors
Amy Forrestal: Managing Director, Brookwood Associates
Sphere of Influence: Brings vast experience advising on restaurant deals, including KFC and Taco Bell franchises, to her clients
Mary Gaede: Managing Director, Antares Capital
Sphere of Influence: Handles West Coast private equity clients for the biggest lender in the middle market
Janki Gandhi: Managing Director, Lincoln International
Sphere of Influence: Manages client relationships and leads deal teams in the investment bank’s consumer group
Lori Haram: SVP, New Business Development, Estée Lauder
Sphere of Influence: Implements M&A strategy, which consists of growing by at least one percent annually through acquisitions
Jeri Harman: CEO, Avante Mezzanine Partners
Sphere of Influence: Runs one of the most active lending shops in the middle market, co-chairs the annual ACG Los Angeles Business Conference and serves as vice chair of the SBIA
Holly Moore Haynes: Founder, Luminate Capital Partners
Sphere of Influence: After cutting her teeth at Silver Lake, where she worked on significant tech deals, such as the buyout of Seagate’s hard drive unit, Haynes recently founded tech-focused PE firm Luminate
Kristina Heinze: Co-Founder, Partner, ParkerGale Capital
Sphere of Influence: Heads up deal sourcing at young, tech-focused private equity firm ParkerGale, which she co-founded with fellow partners from Chicago Growth Partners
Pam Hendrickson: COO, The Riverside Co.
Sphere of Influence: Runs Riverside’s back-office functions, fundraising and deal origination; serves on the firm’s investment committee and supervises a fund; previously served as chair of the ACG; testified before Congress on behalf of PE industry
Mary Josephs: CEO, Verit Advisors
Sphere of Influence: Structures innovative ESOPs for middle-market companies
Julia Karol: President, COO, The Watermill Group
Sphere of Influence: Evaluates funds for investment and co-investment opportunities on behalf of the firm’s private equity clients
Mercedes Kerr: EVP, Business Development, Welltower
Sphere of Influence: Manages business relationships to help the company expand its healthcare real estate portfolio
Karin Kovacic: VP, New Business Development, Alcentra Capital
Sphere of Influence: Spearheads new business development and deal origination for the BNY Mellon subsidiary; chairs ACG Connecticut chapter; serves on the boards of AM&AA and ACG Global
Amber Landis: VP, Public Policy, ACG Global
Sphere of Influence: Lobbies on behalf of the middle market in Washington, D.C., including meeting with members of Congress and federal regulators
Tricia Marks: Managing Director, Madison Capital Funding
Sphere of Influence: Manages the firm’s loan syndication effort and third-party capital, and serves on the investment committee
Beatrice Mitchell: Managing Director, Sperry Mitchell
Sphere of Influence: Co-owns one of the oldest independent middle-market investment banking firms
Nicola Morris: SVP, Corporate Development, Wex
Sphere of Influence: Heads up M&A efforts for the acquisitive vehicle payment processing services provider
Hadley Mullin: Senior Managing Director, TSG Consumer Partners
Sphere of Influence: Leverages 20 years of experience working on consumer deals, such as Smashbox, Yard House, Radio Systems and Sexy Hair, to play several roles at the PE firm, including serving on the investment committee
Raquel Palmer: Partner, KPS Capital Partners
Sphere of Influence: Chairs the investment committee of the turnaround-focused PE firm and serves on the board of nine portfolio companies
Gretchen Perkins: Partner, Huron Capital Partners
Sphere of Influence: Originates many of Huron’s deals and influences public policy for the middle market as co-chair of ACG’s public policy committee
Beth Pickens: Managing Director, William Blair
Sphere of Influence: Runs cross-border consumer goods deals, such as Harrys of London, out of the investment bank's London office
Sheryl Schwartz: Managing Director, Caspian Private Equity
Sphere of Influence: As a limited partner, Schwartz invests in primary and secondary private equity funds on behalf of Caspian clients
Astrid Soto: VP, Business Development, AUA Private Equity Partners
Sphere of Influence: Heads business development for AUA; contributes to the ACG New York's Women of Leadership committee; looks to increase diversity in private equity, specifically among minority groups and the Hispanic community
Christine Tiseo, Managing Director, Lincoln International
Sphere of Influence: Runs financing processes for private equity firms that are making leveraged acquisitions, refinancing companies or issuing dividend recapitalizations
Emily Waldorf: VP, Corporate Strategy, Campbell Soup
Sphere of Influence: Spearheads Campbell’s corporate direction and planning processes, including expanding the maker of well-known comfort foods into new, growing segments through acquisitions, such as Bolthouse Farms
Amber McGraw Walsh: Chair, Healthcare Practice, McGuireWoods
Sphere of Influence: As head of the healthcare practice at McGuireWoods, she advises on a wide range of deals in the sector, including physician-owned hospitals
Alisa Wood: Member, Client and Partner Group, KKR
Sphere of Influence: Heads KKR’s products specialist area globally for all private market activities, participates in capital raising and nurtures relationships with limited partners
