Our team has the unique ability to both execute complex transactions and to provide sound strategic and operational direction. We strive to create transaction structures which best align our goals with those of our management teams, and to work with our key managers to maximize our portfolio companies’ long-term potential.
In addition to the core Vista investment professionals, our team is comprised of a broad network of technology-focused consultants, bankers, and business leaders.
Principals
Robert F. Smith
Robert founded Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is the firm’s Managing Principal.
Prior to founding Vista, Robert was the Co-Head of the Enterprise Systems and Storage sector for Goldman, Sachs & Co’s investment banking division. While at Goldman, he executed and advised on merger and acquisition activity across a broad range of technology segments, including semiconductors, contract manufacturing, data networking, computer systems, B2B and enterprise software, and Internet infrastructure. Robert also served as the business unit manager for Goldman’s Mergers and Acquisitions group, and was responsible for conflict clearance, team staffing, recruiting, marketing strategy, and fee schedule integrity.
Prior to Goldman, Robert worked at Kraft General Foods (KGF) in strategic planning and development. He served as Technical Supervisor in the Food Service Division and was responsible for product, equipment and process development. While at KGF, he also developed a proprietary processing technology, launched four product reformulations, integrated processing technology from a major European acquisition and designed and implemented a distribution acquisition strategy. He is the principal inventor on two United States and two European patents.
Robert currently sits on the boards of Reynolds & Reynolds, Accero, BigMachines, Brainware, Craig/is, MDSI, P2ES, SirsiDynix, Sunquest, Surgical Information Systems, P2ES, and Ventyx. He has previously been on the boards of Applied Systems, Aspect Communications, SER Solutions, SourceNet Solutions, and SRC Software. He is also a member of the Young President’s Organization and a director of the Bay Area Discovery Museum.
Education:
B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Cornell University
MBA, with a concentration in Finance and Marketing, Columbia Business School
Assistant:
Heather Reynolds
(415) 765-6550
hreynolds@VistaEquityPartners.com
Stephen Davis
Stephen co-founded Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is a Principal.
Prior to co-founding Vista, Stephen worked for Credit Suisse First Boston as a Vice President in the Leveraged Finance Group. While at CSFB, Stephen advised leveraged buyout firms and/or their portfolio companies on a variety of transactions including high yield and leveraged loan financing in connection with acquisitions, going private transactions, refinancings and recapitalizations, initial public offerings, and mergers and acquisitions. He worked with companies across several industries including information services, business services/outsourcing, manufacturing and general industry, pharmaceuticals/health care and retail.
Prior to working with CSFB, Stephen was a corporate attorney with Debevoise & Plimpton and Kirkland & Ellis.
Stephen sits on the boards of BigMachines, Craig/is, P2ES, and Ventyx. He was involved in the sale of Applied Systems to Bain Capital.
Education:
B.S. in Economics, Carlton College
JD/MBA, Columbia University
Assistant:
Michelle Salas
(415) 765-7012
msalas@VistaEquityPartners.com
Brian Sheth
Brian joined Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is a Principal.
Prior to joining Vista, Brian worked at Bain Capital focusing on leveraged buyouts of technology companies. Prior to that, Brian worked in the Mergers and Acquisitions Groups at Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, where he advised clients in a variety of industries including software, hardware, semiconductors, and online media.
Brian focuses on software that enables enterprise search, enterprise content management, call center technologies, wireless applications, healthcare information systems and enterprise applications for the finance and insurance industries. He has also focused on transactions with enterprise asset management and enterprise resource planning software companies within the commercial printing, manufacturing, utilities, telecommunications and cable industries. Brian also focuses on companies that oursource F&A processes within different vertical industries.
Brian sits on the boards of Brainware, SirsiDynix, Sunquest, Surgical Information Systems, and Ventyx. Brian was involved in the sale of SourceNet Solutions to Mellon Financial, the sale of Aspect Communications to Concerto Software, SER’s sale of its Synergy Division to Jack Henry, the sale of SER Solutions to the Gores Group, the spin-out of Brainware from SER, and the sale of Applied Systems to Bain Capital.
Education:
B.S. in Economics, concentration in Finance, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Assistant:
Heather Reynolds
(415) 765-6550
hreynolds@VistaEquityPartners.com
James P. Hickey
Jim jointed Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is a Principal.
Prior to joining Vista, Jim spent 25 years at William Blair & Company, including 14 years heading up the technology investment banking practice and 11 years as a technology equity research analyst. While at Blair, he completed over 50 equity offerings exceeding $6 billion in total value and over 35 M&A transactions exceeding $18 billion in total value. Jim is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Education:
B.A. in Economics, Williams College, with honors
MBA, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Assistant:
Heather Reynolds
(415) 765-6550
hreynolds@VistaEquityPartners.com
Jamie Ford
Jamie joined Vista Equity Partners in 2000 and is a Principal.
Prior to joining Vista, Jamie worked in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he advised clients in a variety of industries including consumer products, chemicals, energy and power, and media. These projects included buyside and sellside transactions and other strategic advisory initiatives.
While at Vista, Jamie has focused on investments in enterprise application software and technology-enabled services companies. He has experience with businesses focused on providing solutions to a wide range of vertical markets including financial services, contact centers, commercial printing, utilities and telecommunications, among others.
Jamie sits on the boards of Accero, P2ES, and Ventyx. He was involved in the sale of SourceNet Solutions to Mellon Financial, the sale of SRC Software to Business Objects, the sale of Aspect Communications to Concerto Software, and Vista’s investment in SER Solutions.Education:
B.A. in Economics, Amherst College, magna cum laude
Assistant:
Susan Vennarucci
(415) 765-7017
svennarucci@VistaEquityPartners.com
Operating Principal
Martin Taylor
Martin Taylor joined Vista in December of 2006 as an Operating Principal. He is responsible for driving the transformation and operational improvements with the firm's portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Vista Martin spent 13 ½ years at Microsoft. His most recent role was Corporate Vice President of Windows Live and MSN. He provided business leadership as well as product and marketing management for Windows Live services, MSN and the Microsoft® Live platform.
During his tenure at Microsoft Martin managed corporate strategy, sales, product marketing and various segment teams. Martin served as general manager of Platform Strategy at Microsoft, responsible for Windows Server System™ business strategy and competitive strategy efforts across the company. Martin also served as Chief of Staff and Director of Business Strategy, working directly for Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. Martin assisted Mr. Ballmer with strategic projects and long-term planning for the corporation.
Martin was also the general manager of Microsoft Caribbean Inc. based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. As general manager, Martin was responsible for all sales, marketing, consulting, business development and operations for the entire region. Under his leadership, this subsidiary more than doubled in overall revenue and head count and opened up offices in additional counties.
Education:
Martin attended George Mason University in Fairfax, VA.
Assistant:
Susan Vennarucci
(415) 765-7017
svennarucci@VistaEquityPartners.com
Vice Presidents
Rob Rogers
Rob joined Vista Equity Partners in 2002 and is a Vice President.
Prior to joining Vista, Rob worked as a consultant for the Biotechnology Value Fund evaluating new investments and working closely with portfolio company managers on strategic and operational initiatives. Rob previously served as Director of Finance and Business Development for Integra LifeSciences, a publicly traded medical technology company. While at Integra, Rob worked on acquisitions and alliances, and oversaw the integration and operations of the acquired Redmond surgical instruments business.
Prior to Integra, Rob worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Goldman, Sachs & Co., where he advised clients on buyside, sellside and strategic advisory assignments in various industries such as consumer products, retail, packaging, and timber.
While at Vista, Rob has focused on investments in enterprise application software and technology-enabled services companies. He has experience with businesses providing solutions to a variety of industries including utilities, healthcare, retail, higher education, financial services, and manufacturing, among others.
Rob sits on the boards of Surgical Information Systems and Sunquest. He has also been involved with the firm's investment in Ventyx.
Education:
A.B. in Public and International Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University
MBA, Stanford University
Assistant:
Sonia Sihota
(415) 765-7033
ssihota@VistaEquityPartners.com
Christian Sowul
Christian joined Vista Equity Partners in 2001 and is a Vice President.
Prior to joining Vista, Christian worked in the High Technology Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co. where he advised clients in a variety of verticals including software, IT services, telecom equipment, direct broadcast satellite, Internet, and media, among others. These projects included buyside and sellside transactions, public market financings and other strategic advisory initiatives. Christian also worked at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell focused on high technology M&A investment banking and at Generation Partners, a venture capital firm focused on technology investments.
While at
Christian sits on the board of BigMachines and SirsiDynix and also currently works with the firm’s investments in Brainware and CRAIG/is. He was involved in SER’s sale of its Synergy Division to Jack Henry, the sale of SER Solutions to the Gores Group, the spin-out of Brainware from SER, and the sale of Applied Systems to Bain Capital.
Education:
B.S. in Economics, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, cum laude
B.S. in Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, cum laude
Assistant:
Michelle Salas
(415) 765-7012
msalas@VistaEquityPartners.com
Operating Vice President
Betty Hung
Betty joined Vista Equity Partners in January 2007 and is an Operating Vice President. She is responsible for working with the firm's portfolio companies to optimize their finance, accounting, and back-office functions.
Prior to joining Vista, Betty was Vice President of Portfolio Company Operations at Garnett & Helfrich Capital. Prior to that, Betty was the Chief Financial Officer of OSIsoft, Inc., a privately held software company that delivers real-time performance data to the world’s leading process manufacturing, life sciences, and utility companies. While at OSIsoft, Betty helped establish subsidiaries around the world and created processes and implemented systems to support the company’s rapid growth.
Prior to OSIsoft, Betty worked for Goldman, Sachs & Co. as a Vice President in the High Technology Group. While at Goldman, Betty executed over $6 billion in equity and debt financing transactions for clients across a range of technology sectors and advised on several merger and acquisition transactions. Betty also served as a business unit manager for the High Technology Group and was responsible for business selection, conflict clearance, team staffing, recruiting, and client targeting. Betty also worked at Alex.Brown & Sons in their high technology investment banking group.
Education:
B.A. in Economics and Chinese Studies, Wellesley College
M.P.P.M. with a concentration in Finance, Yale School of Management
Assistant:
Michelle Salas
(415) 765-7012
msalas@VistaEquityPartners.com
Associates
Dustin Beck
Dustin joined Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Dustin worked in the Technology, Media and Telecommunications division of Goldman, Sachs & Co. While at Goldman, Dustin advised technology and media companies on a broad range of transactions including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, financings and other corporate restructuring activities.
Education:
B.S. in Business Administration, Concentration in Financial Analysis and Valuation, University of Southern California
Assistant:
Kaitlyn Kim
(415) 765-7022
kkim@VistaEquityPartners.com
Quinlan Fang
Quinlan joined Vista Equity Partners in 2006 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Quinlan worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at UBS Investment Bank. While at UBS, Quinlan advised clients on buyside and sellside transactions, debt financings and other strategic advisory initiatives in a variety of industries including software, semiconductors, communications equipment, business services and online / digital media.
Quinlan currently works with the firm’s investment in SirsiDynix.
Education:
B.S. in Economics, Concentration in Finance and Management, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Assistant:
Susan Vennarucci
(415) 765-7017
svennarucci@VistaEquityPartners.com
Michael Fosnaugh
Michael joined Vista Equity Partners in 2005 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Michael worked in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group at SG Cowen & Co. focusing on the software, services, and financial technology sectors. While at SG Cowen, Michael advised clients on buy side and sell side transactions, public and private equity financings, and other strategic advisory initiatives.
Michael currently works with the firm’s investments in SirsiDynix and Sunquest.
Education:
A.B. in Economics from Harvard College, cum laude
Assistant:
Sonia Sihota
(415) 765-7033
ssihota@VistaEquityPartners.com
Regan Garrett
Regan joined Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Regan worked in the Technology Group at William Blair & Company in Chicago where she advised clients in a variety of verticals including software, SaaS, IT services, and semiconductors, among others. These projects included buyside and sellside transactions, public and private equity financings, and other strategic advisory initiatives.
Education:
B.A. in Economics and Psychology, Northwestern University, summa cum laude
Assistant:
Susan Vennarucci
(415) 765-7017
svennarucci@VistaEquityPartners.com
Gautam Gupta
Gautam joined Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Gautam worked in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Merrill Lynch. While at Merrill Lynch, Gautam advised clients on buyside and sellside transactions in a variety of industries including software semiconductors, communications equipment and internet. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Gautam worked in the Global Energy and Power Group at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein.
Education:
S.B. in Mathematics with a Specialization in Economics from the University of Chicago
Assistant:
Kaitlyn Kim
(415) 765-7022
kkim@VistaEquityPartners.com
Monti Saroya
Monti joined Vista Equity Partners in 2008 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, Monti worked as a senior research analyst for JMP Securities providing research for buy-side clients on public on demand (SAAS) companies. Monti previously worked as an associate for the enterprise software/applications team. Prior to JMP, Monti worked for Siebel Systems in a sales capacity for the CRM On Demand division. Prior to Siebel, Monti worked for Cisco Systems in various operations roles.
Education:
B.S. in Computer Engineering, California Polytechnic State University, magna cum laude
Assistant:
Sonia Sihota
(415) 765-7033
ssihota@VistaEquityPartners.com
René Yang
René joined Vista Equity Partners in 2007 and is an Associate.
Prior to joining Vista, René worked at Yahoo! in the Corporate Finance Group focusing on mergers & acquisitions and business development opportunities for the company. Prior to Yahoo!, René worked in the Global Technology Group at Lehman Brothers. While at Lehman, René advised clients on buyside and sellside transactions, equity financings and other strategic advisory initiatives in the payment services and semiconductor sectors.
René currently works with the firm's investment in Surgical Information Systems.
Education:
B.A. in Economics, Columbia University, cum laude
Assistant:
Sonia Sihota
(415) 765-7033
ssihota@VistaEquityPartners.com
John Warnken-Brill
John joined Vista Equity Partners in September 2006 and is its Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to joining Vista, John was the Vice President of Finance at Blum Capital Partners, a San Francisco based private equity firm managing approximately $3.5 billion in assets and commitments. While at Blum, John had responsibility for financial operations, trading operations, and limited partner reporting and helped establish several new partnerships.
Prior to Blum, John was the Chief Financial Officer of Putnam Lovell Group, Inc., a San Francisco based investment banking and private equity firm focusing on the asset management industry.
John is a CPA and has held various finance positions with Charles Schwab, Nextel, and Price Waterhouse.
Education:
B.S. in Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, Haas School of Business, the University of California at Berkeley
Assistant:
Susan Vennarucci
(415) 765-7017
svennarucci@VistaEquityPartners.com