Key Takeaways
- • CSG Partners promoted Nate Grow and Doron Saraf to managing director and hired Gene Kennedy as managing director, expanding its ESOP advisory team, according to a PRWeb press release dated October 29, 2026.
- • CSG Partners, named 2025 ESOP Investment Bank of the Year by The M&A Atlas Awards, is positioning the appointments as reinforcing its focus on employee stock ownership plan transaction advisory.
- • Doron Saraf has advised on ESOP transactions totaling more than $3.5 billion in cumulative enterprise value and raised nearly $1 billion in transaction financing during his CSG tenure.
- • Nate Grow previously led Capstone Partners' ESOP advisory practice and has closed ESOP formations for two Midwest construction companies in his first year at CSG.
- • Gene Kennedy brings commercial banking and ESOP financing experience, most recently as Market Executive for New York and Boston at Customers Bank.
Summary
CSG Partners has added three managing directors to its ESOP advisory team, promoting Nate Grow and Doron Saraf and hiring Gene Kennedy, according to a press release distributed by PRWeb on October 29, 2026. The firm, which was named the 2025 ESOP Investment Bank of the Year by The M&A Atlas Awards, said the appointments strengthen its ability to serve a growing number of companies pursuing employee ownership strategies. Founder and Managing Partner Lawrence Kaplan said the firm takes the managing director title seriously and that the new appointments reflect its high standards.
Nate Grow was promoted after joining CSG in late 2025. In his first year, he closed ESOP formations for two Midwest-based construction companies and is finalizing transactions for manufacturing, industrial supply, and contracting firms in the region. Grow previously led Capstone Partners' ESOP advisory practice and spent nearly a decade at Houlihan Lokey and Lincoln International advising consumer, retail, and food and beverage clients on M&A.
Gene Kennedy joins from Customers Bank, where he served as Market Executive for New York and Boston and built a corporate and specialty banking practice over 12 years. Earlier, he held senior banking and credit roles at First National Bank of New York and JPMorgan Chase. The release says his experience in financing ESOP transactions and advising middle-market businesses will support the team's deal execution.
Doron Saraf joined CSG as an analyst in 2019 and was promoted to managing director after advancing through the firm's talent development program. He has led ESOP feasibility, valuation, structuring, financing, and negotiation work for middle-market companies nationwide. According to the release, he has advised on ESOP transactions representing more than $3.5 billion in cumulative enterprise value and raised nearly $1 billion in transaction financing. He began his career at Sterling National Bank, now Santander Bank.
Nate Grow was promoted after joining CSG in late 2025. In his first year, he closed ESOP formations for two Midwest-based construction companies and is finalizing transactions for manufacturing, industrial supply, and contracting firms in the region. Grow previously led Capstone Partners' ESOP advisory practice and spent nearly a decade at Houlihan Lokey and Lincoln International advising consumer, retail, and food and beverage clients on M&A.
Gene Kennedy joins from Customers Bank, where he served as Market Executive for New York and Boston and built a corporate and specialty banking practice over 12 years. Earlier, he held senior banking and credit roles at First National Bank of New York and JPMorgan Chase. The release says his experience in financing ESOP transactions and advising middle-market businesses will support the team's deal execution.
Doron Saraf joined CSG as an analyst in 2019 and was promoted to managing director after advancing through the firm's talent development program. He has led ESOP feasibility, valuation, structuring, financing, and negotiation work for middle-market companies nationwide. According to the release, he has advised on ESOP transactions representing more than $3.5 billion in cumulative enterprise value and raised nearly $1 billion in transaction financing. He began his career at Sterling National Bank, now Santander Bank.
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