Castle Creek Capital an alternative investment firm focused on the financial services sector, is pleased to announce four recent additions to the team. Collectively, these individuals will partner with our investment team and portfolio company management teams to source, underwrite, and implement sustainable operational improvements at Castle Creek portfolio companies. Kevin Ahern and Ryan Gilbert join Castle Creek in advisory roles as Senior Advisors1. Chris Bertsch also joins as President of Compass Operating Partners, an advisor to Castle Creek, and Aditi Dwivedi joins as an Associate on the investment team.
Kevin Ahern joins in an advisory role as a Senior Advisor to the investment team. He has nearly 40 years of experience as an investor, entrepreneur, and operator in the financial services industry including commercial banking, private equity, institutional investment management, alternative investments, insurance, investment banking, and mergers and acquisitions. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Northern Colorado and an M.B.A. from the University of Connecticut. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Ryan Gilbert joins in an advisory role as a Senior Advisor to the investment team. He is a founder and investor with over 25 years of global financial services and technology expertise. Ryan is founder of Launchpad Capital based in Oakland, CA, and General partner of the firm’s fintech-focused venture funds. He graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is member of the State Bar of California.
Chris Bertsch joins as President of Compass Operating Partners, an advisor to Castle Creek. Through his more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry, Chris has assisted countless banks of all asset sizes in delivering over $1B in profitability improvements. He has focused his career on business transformation using technology and process improvement, most recently serving as Global Head of Banking Operations Transformation at J.P Morgan. Other experience includes similar operational improvement roles at Discover Financial Services and Comerica Bank. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.
Aditi Dwivedi joins Castle Creek as an Associate on the investment team. Previously, she worked as an investment banking analyst in J.P Morgan’s Financial Institutions Group in New York. Aditi holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Finance, and Business from California State University, Northridge.
John Eggemeyer, Founder and Castle Creek managing principal commented, “Kevin and Ryan bring decades of investing and operating experience in the financial services sector. They will serve on boards and work with portfolio companies. We are thrilled to have them in an advisory role.”
Castle Creek managing principal Sundeep Rana added, “We are excited for Aditi’s contribution to our investment process and analysis. Moreover, as we enhance our operational value-add at portfolio companies, we look forward to growing our relationship with Compass Operating Partners under Chris’ leadership.”
Castle Creek managing principal Tony Scavuzzo continued, “We are pleased to be adding outstanding talent to our team when others are retracting. These additions further our mission to be the premier partner and capital provider to community banks and financial service companies.”
*The statement quoted above was made by an executive of a Castle Creek portfolio company.
The portfolio company executive has not received compensation for the above statement and this statement is solely his opinion and representative of his experience with Castle Creek. Other portfolio company executives may not necessarily share the same view. An executive in a Castle Creek portfolio company may have an incentive to make a statement that portrays Castle Creek in a positive light as a result of the executive's ongoing relationship with Castle Creek and any influence that Castle Creek may have or had over the governance of the portfolio company and the compensation of its executives. It should not be assumed that Castle Creek's investment in the referenced portfolio company has been or will ultimately be profitable.