The Carlyle Group announced that Jill R. Wight has joined the firm as a principal in the U.S. middle-market team in a newly-created operations role that seeks to harness the global resources of the firm to create value in the middle market fund’s portfolio. Wight, who comes to Carlyle from Goldman Sachs, where she was a director in the Special Situations Group, is based in New York.
Rodney S. Cohen and Brooke B. Coburn, managing directors and co-heads of Carlyle’s U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund, said, “Jill brings a wealth of experience in value creation planning, company-specific oversight, value enhancement and executive development. The middle market team’s greatest competitive advantage is our ability to leverage Carlyle’s global resources to create value in our U.S. portfolio. Jill’s deep and broad experience in portfolio operations positions her well to make connections across our funds’ investments and with other Carlyle portfolio companies.”
Specifically, Wight will help develop and implement strategic and 100-Day Plans that address key risks and capture value creation opportunities; build out and harness the team’s stable of operating executives; and help ensure the funds are focused and accountable around key portfolio company priorities over the holding period.
Wight said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to help the U.S. middle market team take full advantage of a wealth of global resources as we work to create value. I look forward to sharing my experience and working within the One Carlyle collaborative culture.”
The U.S. middle market team is currently investing two funds: Carlyle U.S. Equity Opportunity Fund, L.P. I & II. Recent investments include Service King, one of the largest automotive collision repair centers in the U.S.; ECi Software Solutions, a provider of industry-specific technology; Traxys Group, a financial and logistical provider in the mining industry; AxleTech International Holdings, Inc., a manufacturer of automotive supplies; and PrimeSport, a global sports travel and events-management company.
Wight joined Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group in 2008 where she headed the Portfolio Operations Group. At Goldman Sachs she was instrumental in driving the operational value enhancement in more than 50 companies in the Americas. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs as a director in 2008, Wight was a vice president in the Equity and Distressed Investing Group at GSC Group where she led portfolio operations.