Christopher O Brien

Christopher P. O’Brien is a Managing Partner at Wynnchurch Capital, a middle-market private equity firm founded in 1999 and headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. Wynnchurch reports $9.1 billion of assets under management and focuses on complex North American middle-market private equity situations.

O’Brien joined Wynnchurch in 2000, shortly after the firm’s founding. Wynnchurch states that he leads all aspects of the firm’s management and investment activities. He has more than 25 years of private equity investing and management experience and has served on the boards of several current and former Wynnchurch portfolio companies.

Before Wynnchurch, O’Brien spent four years in consulting. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance, with honors, from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A., with honors, from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

• Wynnchurch’s mandate is not seed or angel investing; it is middle-market private equity in companies with $100 million to $3 billion in revenue.
• The firm seeks equity investments of $50 million to $750 million and targets corporate carve-outs, underperforming businesses, growth situations, and family-owned businesses in transition.
• Wynnchurch’s sector focus is manufacturing, distribution, and services, with examples ranging from industrial manufacturing and specialty distribution to foodservice products and business services.
• The firm’s stated approach emphasizes complexity: “Where others see complexity, we see opportunity.”
• Wynnchurch looks for market leaders with defensible positions, strong customer relationships, experienced management teams, and situations where the firm’s operating experience, capital, and network can help improve growth and profitability.
• The firm emphasizes open communication, partnership with management, intellectual curiosity, and a long-term view.