Key Takeaways
- • H.I.G. Capital appointed Brian Schwartz as chief executive officer, making him the firm's first non-founder to lead the private equity firm, according to the firm's announcement.
- • Schwartz, who joined H.I.G. in 1994, previously served as Co-President for six years, overseeing day-to-day operations and sitting on the investment committees of all H.I.G. funds.
- • H.I.G. manages approximately $75 billion in AUM and, per a Bloomberg interview, is pursuing $100 billion in AUM by pairing off-market sourcing with operating partners focused on EBITDA growth.
- • Schwartz has overseen more than 3,500 transactions and, according to the firm, has been a key driver of H.I.G.'s growth and evolution since 1994.
Summary
H.I.G. Capital has named Brian Schwartz chief executive officer, making him the first non-founder to lead the firm's private equity business. The appointment was announced by H.I.G. and covered in subsequent company materials. In the CEO role, Schwartz sets the firm's strategic direction, guides investment priorities and oversees long-term growth across H.I.G.'s global, multi-strategy platform, and serves on the firm's Executive Committee.
Schwartz has been with H.I.G. since 1994, when the firm's AUM was roughly $70 million, and has held senior leadership roles across its private equity, credit and real assets platforms. Before becoming CEO, he served six years as Co-President, directing day-to-day operations and sitting on the investment committees for all H.I.G. funds. The firm credits him with more than 3,500 transactions over that period.
In a Bloomberg interview with Dani Burger, Schwartz described H.I.G.'s growth from $70 million to today's approximately $75 billion in AUM, and said the firm has returned nearly $6 billion to investors. He outlined a goal of reaching $100 billion in AUM, which he attributed to off-market sourcing paired with operating partners who drive EBITDA growth in portfolio companies. The firm describes its approach as partnering with investment teams and portfolio company management to deliver operational improvements and build market-leading positions.
Before joining H.I.G., Schwartz worked in strategic planning at PepsiCo and in investment banking at Dillon, Read & Co. He holds a B.S. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Schwartz has been with H.I.G. since 1994, when the firm's AUM was roughly $70 million, and has held senior leadership roles across its private equity, credit and real assets platforms. Before becoming CEO, he served six years as Co-President, directing day-to-day operations and sitting on the investment committees for all H.I.G. funds. The firm credits him with more than 3,500 transactions over that period.
In a Bloomberg interview with Dani Burger, Schwartz described H.I.G.'s growth from $70 million to today's approximately $75 billion in AUM, and said the firm has returned nearly $6 billion to investors. He outlined a goal of reaching $100 billion in AUM, which he attributed to off-market sourcing paired with operating partners who drive EBITDA growth in portfolio companies. The firm describes its approach as partnering with investment teams and portfolio company management to deliver operational improvements and build market-leading positions.
Before joining H.I.G., Schwartz worked in strategic planning at PepsiCo and in investment banking at Dillon, Read & Co. He holds a B.S. with honors from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
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