People & Company News, Week of August 15, 2025
- Robert Hum has been appointed as head of investment product development and activation at SEI. In his role, Hum will lead the development and execution strategy for investment products and models. Hum will report to Michael Lane, SEI’s head of asset management. Prior to joining SEI, Hum was a managing director and head of factor, outcome, and alternative ETFs at BlackRock.
- Sonali Basak has joined iCapital, a fintech investment platform, as its chief investment strategist. Basak will play a significant role in shaping the firm’s approach to leadership across public and private markets and will drive support for client investment strategies. Basak will report to iCapital’s CEO Lawrence Calcano and will assume her position in early September. Before joining iCapital, Basak was the lead Wall Street and global finance correspondent for Bloomberg News, and anchor of “Open Interest” on Bloomberg Television.
- Elena Ro has been named CCO and special counsel at RIA Lido Advisors. Ro joins Lido Advisors following a 22-year tenure at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There, Ro most recently served as associate regional director at the SEC’s San Francisco office. She also led the Division of Examinations’ regional program, where she oversaw compliance programs for RIAs, broker-dealers, and other investment firms.
- David Hedley has been tapped as CFO for Bramshill Investments, an alternative asset management firm. Hedley has been at Bramshill Investments since 2021, where he was previously serving as the firm’s chief strategy officer. Hedley replaces the firm’s former CFO, Gina Cifello, who retired in April. Hedley, who brings over 34 years of Wall Street experience, was previously a principal and senior managing director at Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, where he led the firm’s technology investment banking group.
- John Deignan has been appointed as CEO of Stone-Goff Partners’ FS Vector, a consulting and regulatory technology platform. Deignan has succeeded John Beccia, who has assumed the role of chairman of the FS Vector board. Prior to joining Stone-Goff Partners, he was the CEO of Baker Hill, a technology solutions portfolio company. In that role, he provided technology solutions to banks and credit unions to fuel loan origination.
- Erin Gibbs has been tapped to serve as chief equity strategist for SlateStone Wealth, an investment advisory firm. In the newly created position, Gibbs will oversee the development of SlateStone’s quantitative equity platform. Gibbs will be working closely with Daniel Payne, SlateStone’s CIO, and will join SlateStone Wealth’s Investment Policy committee and work alongside advisory and business development teams to align portfolio design with client needs and company objectives. Before joining SlateStone, Gibbs was the CIO at Main Street Asset Management, where she co-led multi-asset strategies for high-net-worth families.
- Industry executives Tomek Siergiejuk and Tom Eidt have joined Alto, a private market and alternative assets IRA platform. Siergiejuk has joined as the firm’s CFO, and Eidt has joined as general counsel. Siergiejuk joins Alto from J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, where he served as CFO and managing director. At Alto, he will be overseeing the company’s financial operations. Eidt, most recently served as general counsel at Securitize, a digital securities platform. At Alto, Eidt will lead the firm’s legal and regulatory strategy.
- Manulife Investment Management has launched its Manulife CQS Multi Asset Credit Fund, with its affiliated investment advisor Manulife CQS Investment Management. The fund seeks to generate income and capital growth by investing primarily in credit-related investments of global issuers. Additionally, the fund will invest in various traditional and alternative fixed-income asset classes, with an emphasis on developed markets within a mutual fund model. Co-chief investment officer Craig Scordellis, head of global loans James Fitzpatrick, and senior portfolio manager Darren Toner are leading the management of the fund.
- First Financial Bancorp will be acquiring Chicago-based BankFinancial Corporation, as First Financial bolsters its presence in the Chicago market. The deal, which is valued at about $142M, will add 18 retail locations and boost First Financial’s commercial banking presence with further capabilities, bringing the total deposits to $2.2B. Following the acquisition, all BankFinancial bank employees will transition into First Financial Bank associates. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year.
- Fundwell, a fintech platform, has acquired EveryStreet, a provider of accounts receivable (A/R), accounts payable (A/P), and flexible payment solutions. The acquisition will allow for EveryStreet’s capabilities to be integrated into Fundwell’s platform to enhance its business financing solutions. The purchase will combine Fundwell’s network with EveryStreet’s financial management tools in an effort to deliver financing accessibility and cash flow management solutions.
- WideOpenWest, a broadband provider, will be acquired by DigitalBridge and Crestview Partners for $1.5B. The transaction is anticipated to close by the end of this year or in the first quarter of 2026. Following the deal, WideOpenWest will no longer be traded or listed on any public securities exchange. The acquisition will be funded by affiliated investment funds of DigitalBridge Investments and Crestview Partners. Crestview Partners, which is the largest shareholder in WideOpenWest, will be rolling over its entire stake in the deal.
- Sapiens, an insurance software firm, will be acquired by Advent, a private equity firm, in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $2.5B. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the company’s board, is expected to close later this year or in early 2026. Upon the closing of the transaction, Sapiens’ shares will no longer be publicly listed, and Sapiens will become a privately held company. Per the agreement, shareholders will receive $43.50 per share in cash, representing about 64% premium over Sapiens’ closing share price on Aug. 8.
- Audax Strategic Capital, a private equity solutions platform, has raised approximately $1.3B in the final round for its inaugural fund, dubbed Audax Private Equity Solutions Fund. The fund received commitments from new investors and existing Audax Private Equity LPs. Audax Private Equity accounted for approximately 20% of the LP commitments to the fund. The firm did not use outside placement agents as part of the fundraising for the fund. Ropes & Gray served as legal counsel to Audax Strategic Capital.
- JMI Equity, a private equity firm, has raised $3.1B in capital commitment in the final round for its oversubscribed Fund XIII. The fund, which launched in March, has raised its total commitments to over $11B since its founding in 1992. In addition to the fund’s closing, JMI Equity has promoted Preston Horner and Andy Knox to principal and Will Priestley to VP. Proskauer Rose served as legal counsel in the formation of JMI XII.
- Periscope Equity, a private equity firm, has secured $370M in capital commitments for its Periscope Equity III fund, exceeding its targeted goal of $300M in under a year. Periscope Equity III’s investors include new and returning limited partners from university endowments, pension funds, foundations, consultants, funds of funds, and family offices. Kirkland & Ellis was the legal counsel, and M2O Private Fund Advisors served as the placement agent.
- New York-based Sound Point Capital Management has raised $1.1B in commitments in the first round for its Strategic Capital Fund III, surpassing its target of raising $500M in the first round and $1B by the close of the fund. The firm had a hard-cap goal of $1.5B.
- Pacific Avenue Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm, has secured $1.65B in capital in the closing round for its second fund, dubbed Pacific Avenue Fund II. The fund includes a €100+ million European sidecar vehicle, which was completed in less than four months. The firm received support from new and existing investors for Pacific Avenue Fund II. Lazard served as the exclusive placement advisor to Fund II, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP provided legal counsel.
