New Principal Joins River Associates
Chattanooga, TN, July 15, 2024
River Associates is pleased to announce that Ken Trent has joined as Principal to support the firm’s investment strategy after the closing of its most recently oversubscribed fund, River VIII, LP.
“We are very excited to have Ken join River Associates. Ken is a great culture fit with our team, and his extensive operating experience, as well as considerable investing experience from the GP level, will be a tremendous asset for our firm,” said Mike Brookshire, Managing Partner.
“I am thrilled to join River Associates, a firm with an impressive 35-year legacy in the lower middle market private equity space,” said Ken Trent. “It is rare to find a firm with the discipline to stick to its knitting and partner with business owners in the lower middle market through eight funds. River Associates’ commitment to integrity, professionalism, and partnership has set a high standard in the industry. I deeply appreciate the collaborative and supportive team atmosphere the partners have cultivated here. Many of the administrative and investment team members have 20+ years working at River, which is a testament to how they treat all their people. I look forward to contributing to our shared vision of building long-term value and continuing the tradition of excellence that River Associates is known for.”
From 2001-2014, Ken was co-owner and President of a vertically integrated manufacturer of enclosed gas and diesel power generation systems, where Ken was instrumental in increasing revenue from $3 million to $40+ million until he sold the business to a publicly traded strategic in 2014. Since 2014, Ken has served as President/CEO of two private equity-backed businesses, where he created and executed the equity value creation plans, which included numerous strategic acquisitions. Presently, Ken serves on the board of directors for two private equity-owned manufacturing businesses. His prior work experience includes both transaction and operating partner roles for multiple private equity groups and investment banking.
Ken received a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School.