With the closing of its latest fund earlier this week, Genstar has appointed J. Ryan Clark as its new President. Just this past Monday, the firm completed fundraising for Genstar Capital Partners VII with $2 billion of limited partner capital commitments, exceeding its initial target of $1.5 billion.
Mr. Clark joined Genstar in 2004 and was named Managing Director in 2011. He focuses on investment opportunities in the financial services industry. “Since I joined the team in 2004, we have grown from investing a $221 million fund, to investing over $2 billion of capital with our latest fund. I am proud that we have been able to do this while maintaining our culture of entrepreneurship, collaboration, meritocracy, and authentic relationships internally and externally,” said Mr. Clark.
Genstar invests from $50 million to $400 million in middle-market companies that have enterprise values from $50 million to $1 billion and EBITDAs greater than $15 million. Genstar targets investments in financial services, software, industrial technology, and healthcare industries. With the closing of its seventh fund, Genstar now manages funds with total capital commitments of more than $5 billion. The firm was founded in 1988 and is based in San Francisco (www.gencap.com).
“Ryan is an outstanding leader who over the past several years has displayed exceptional leadership and a superb investment track-record, while taking on a more meaningful role in Genstar’s management,” said Jean-Pierre L. Conte, Managing Director and Chairman of Genstar. “As I continue my role as Chairman, this promotion demonstrates the continued evolution of Genstar and the distribution of roles and responsibilities within the firm. I am proud of the unique culture we have built at Genstar and we are all excited to have Ryan help continue to build Genstar into the best middle market private equity firm.”
Mr. Clark currently serves on the Boards of several Genstar portfolio companies, including Acrisure, All Web Leads, Financial Horizons, Innovative Aftermarket Systems, Insurity, and Palomar Specialty Insurance. Prior to joining Genstar, he was an Associate at Hellman & Friedman and previously was with Morgan Stanley. Mr. Clark has both an MBA and an AB in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard.
“I am truly honored to serve in this new role at Genstar. The firm’s investors have benefited greatly from J.P.’s leadership and investment success over the past 20 years, and I look forward to continuing to work with him,” said Mr. Clark.
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 8-12-15
