DFW Capital Partners (“DFW”) announced today several additions to its investment and Operating Partner teams. Ke Ding has joined DFW as a Vice President, and will focus on leading transaction execution efforts, post-closing value-creation initiatives and selective deal sourcing. Ke joins DFW from CI Capital where he was a Senior Associate and a member of that firm’s investment team for nearly three years. Prior to CI, Ke was an Associate with Flexpoint Ford, a healthcare-focused middle- market private equity investment firm. Ke began his career with Lazard Investment Banking, where he joined as an Analyst following graduation with a degree in Economics and Spanish from Dartmouth College.
John Miller has also joined DFW as a Senior Associate. After receiving a BS in Finance from the Wake Forest School of Business, John began his finance career with Macquarie Capital as an Analyst, working in their Mergers & Acquisitions Group. John subsequently spent two years as an Associate with American Securities, and was involved in a number of complex acquisitions of service and manufacturing businesses. Most recently, John was a senior member and deal lead in the corporate development department of Conduent, a publicly-traded business process outsourcing company, serving multiple industries in over 25 countries.
Additionally, Patrick Fairfield, who has been with DFW as an Associate for three years, was also recently promoted to Senior Associate.
Finally, DFW has added to its Operating Partner ranks with the addition of Lori Wright. Ms. Wright is a co-Founder, former Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman of the Board of Evolution Research Group, LLC (“ERG”). DFW formed ERG in 2014 by merging the consulting firm she founded in 1998, Thievon-Wright Consulting Group, with St. Louis Clinical Trials, Woodland International Research Group and Woodland Research Northwest. ERG became the platform for what is now the largest, independent clinical research site company in the U.S. with a neuroscience and early phase focus. Ms. Wright led the M&A strategy and completed the acquisition of seven additional clinical research site companies between May of 2015 and March of 2019. DFW exited its investment in ERG in 2018.
During her tenure as CEO of ERG, Ms. Wright managed the infrastructure build, integration of acquired sites, expansion into new therapeutic areas and, along with her team, led the geographic expansion of each portfolio company which included opening several satellite locations in underserved markets. Ms. Wright was also responsible for the management of all clinical and business operations, finance, quality and compliance, business development, and managing several key client relationships. ERG currently owns and operates 13 geographically dispersed research units, and remains the leader in the industry in planning and execution of complex first-in-man, first-in-patient and other Phase I inpatient trials, as well as late stage inpatient and outpatient trials in highly specialized populations.
About DFW Capital Partners
DFW Capital Partners is a private equity investment firm focused on lower middle-market companies. The firm concentrates on service companies, with an emphasis on healthcare and outsourced business and industrial support services. DFW has established a 20+ year track record of success in building companies. DFW is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey and maintains an office in Chevy Chase, Maryland.