Connor Wentzell

Connor Wentzell is a Principal at American Securities LLC, a New York–based private equity firm (with an additional office in Shanghai) that acquires and builds North American middle-market and large-cap businesses, typically those with $200 million to $2 billion in revenue. He joined the firm in 2014 as an Associate, was promoted to Vice President, and now serves as a Principal, where he leads and supports control-equity investments primarily in industrial, services, and manufacturing-oriented businesses.

Before American Securities, Wentzell was an Analyst at Evercore Partners from 2012 to 2014, working in the firm's Mergers & Acquisitions group on M&A and strategic advisory assignments. That advisory grounding in deal execution transitioned into a principal-investing career focused on hands-on ownership of portfolio companies.

He holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

As a deal principal, Wentzell has taken active governance roles across American Securities' portfolio. He currently sits on the boards of Amentum (as an independent director since the 2024 merger with Jacobs' government-services businesses), FullBloom, and Learning Care Group, and he previously served on the board of Blue Bird Corporation, the school-bus manufacturer, after being elected effective November 30, 2018 (also serving on its Compensation Committee).

• Invests through control buyouts, not venture or angel checks — American Securities partners with established companies (roughly $200M–$2B in revenue) rather than startups.
• Value-oriented, long-term, partnership-driven buyout strategy emphasizing capital preservation, conservative capital structures (the firm is known for avoiding subordinated debt), and operational value creation.
• Sector orientation skews toward industrials, manufacturing, business/industrial services, aerospace & defense, government services, and education services — consistent with his board seats (Amentum, FullBloom, Learning Care, Blue Bird).
• Says "yes" to businesses with durable market positions and clear operational-improvement potential, where the firm can serve as a "transformational partner" driving growth and building enduring value.
• Founders seeking pre-seed/seed capital are not a fit — this is a buyout mandate for mature companies and management teams open to a control partner.