On the Move: August 2025 Hires and Promotions
Private equity firms, law firms, lenders, and others announced new hires and promotions this month
Barnes & Thornburg: Tim Van Hal and Jeff Connor
Law firm Barnes & Thornburg (B&T) welcomed two new lawyers to its offices in Nashville and Dallas this month. Tim Van Hal has joined the firm in Nashville with a focus on M&A, private equity, venture capital, joint ventures, and governance issues. Connor joins the firm in Dallas with a focus on private equity and hedge funds, joint ventures, secondary transactions, and M&A. Both hold experience advising clients on complex transactions and fund matters, a press release said.
McGuireWoods: Bharath Mohan
Bharath Mohan was named as the latest addition to McGuireWoods in New York. The law firm named Mohan as its newest member of its private equity team. Mohan’s experience includes representing private equity and growth equity firms, multinational corporations, and strategic buyers and sellers across industries. McGuireWoods noted in its announcement that Mohan’s arrival follows the firm’s recent hiring of Andrew Skowronski, who advises clients on executive compensation agreements and employee benefits matters related to M&A transactions.
MPowered Capital: Chrissie Chen Pariso
Investment firm MPowered Capital, based in Chicago, announced this month the promotion of Chrissie Chen Pariso to the role of managing partner. Pariso holds more than 20 years of experience in private equity and investment management, and will support the firm’s sourcing, underwriting, deal execution, portfolio management, and capital formation initiatives.
In addition to the promotion, MPowered also announced the hiring of Jose “JC” Erdmenger, who joins as principal on the firm’s investment team in New York, and Rick Nosel, who joins as senior advisor from Varde Partners.
Watermill Group: Lucas Gillespie
Private investment firm Watermill Group announced Lucas Gillespie has joined the firm as senior associate. In the role he will focus on evaluating opportunities, executing transactions and supporting management teams on strategic and operational initiatives, according to a press release. Gillespie joins the firm after his role as an MBA associate at lower middle-market private equity firm Tuckerman Capital.
Aperture Investors: Nick Turgeon
Nick Turgeon was named the newest addition to Aperture Investors, an alternative asset manager that is part of Generali Investments. The addition of Turgeon supports the firm’s launch of its Asset-Based Finance Strategy to broaden its private credit offering. Turgeon joins to lead strategy as global head of Asset-Based Finance, an announcement said. He will also serve as portfolio manager of the fund. Turgeon joins Aperture from global alternative investment firm Castlelake, where he served as managing director of its Specialty Finance team.
HGGC: Anna Ike Pope and William Dean
HGGC announced the promotions of Anna Ike Pope and William Dean, both to the roles of vice president to principal, according to a recent press release. Pope has been with the middle-market private equity firm since 2017, joining from Bank of America Merrill Lynch where she served as an investment banking analyst. Dean first joined HGGC in 2019 from UBS Investment Bank, where he served as an associate director in its Financial Sponsors and Leveraged Finance group.
RubinBrown: Rich Dettinger, et al.
RubinBrown, an accounting and business consulting firm, announced its 2025 partner promotions within its Chicago office this month, spanning the firm’s Consulting Services, Private Equity and State and Local Tax Services Groups. The promotions across its Consulting Services Group include Rich Dettinger, Mary Fialkowski, and Mike Rothgery. Gytis Tamosaitis was promoted to partner within the firm’s Private Equity Group, while Daniel Tucker is now a partner within its State and Local Tax Services Group.
Kainos Capital: Ryan Horstman, et al.
Kainos Capital announced a slew of new promotions and hires this month, including Ryan Horstman as its newest chief financial officer. Horstman joins the food- and consumer-focused private equity firm with 20 years of experience as a CPA with expertise in private equity accounting, legal, and operational endeavors. He joins the firm from Vortus Investments, where he was chief financial and compliance officer.
In addition to its new CFO, Kainos also announced Peter Schnuck as a new hire, joining as vice president. He comes from Sunrise Strategic Partners, where he served as vice president.
Kainos also announced the promotion of Cate Mason to senior associate and welcomed three new associates to its team: Olivia Henderson, Bryan Berry, and Kyle Welch.
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