OpenGate adds new MD to team

OpenGate Capital named Paul Bridwell as a managing director to lead operations and portfolio management for the firm’s North American-based investments. His appointment became effective November 5, 2018. Previously, he was a partner and managing director, head of operations at an unnamed New York City private equity firm.

PRESS RELEASE

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–OpenGate Capital, a global private equity firm, announced that Mr. Paul Bridwell joined the firm on November 5th, 2018, as Managing Director to lead operations and portfolio management for the firm’s North American-based investments. Based in Los Angeles, Bridwell joins the OpenGate senior leadership team as a member of the firm’s Investment and Portfolio Committees.

Bridwell is a tenured professional with 15 years of private equity experience and has a proven track record of delivering operating results leading to superior investor returns. He possesses solid leadership and organizational skills both as portfolio company CEO and as an operations leader developed through his tenure at two global, private equity firms.

Prior to joining OpenGate, Bridwell was Partner and Managing Director – Head of Operations at a major private equity investment firm in New York City, where he established the firm’s first operations-focused group and developed a comprehensive operations approach compatible with that firm’s investment strategy.

Bridwell was also previously with Platinum Equity for 12 years, where he held several key roles first as an interim CEO for platform investments, then as Chief Restructuring Officer for the San Diego Tribune and American Commercial Lines. In his final three years at Platinum, Bridwell served as Chief of Staff, where he was integral in raising $3.75 billion for that firm’s third institutional fund.

Andrew Nikou, OpenGate Capital’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “We are excited to welcome Paul into the OpenGate family. Paul has tremendous pedigree and a solid track record of delivering value in our market. We are looking forward to learning from Paul’s operations experiences and deep knowledge base, which will strengthen OpenGate’s strategy to empower the full potential of its investments.”

“I am extremely pleased to join OpenGate Capital,” commented Bridwell. “The firm has a well-established brand across North America and Europe along with a proven, flexible investment approach across a variety of sectors. I have enjoyed working with Andrew in the past few weeks on the recently launched OGx capability, and believe it is an important part of our overall full potential operational strategy. I look forward to working with the professionals on the North American operations team and the entire organization.”

Bridwell immediately assumes the senior leadership role overseeing operations for the portfolio companies in North America acquired through OpenGate’s first institutional fund including Power Partners, Energi Fenestration Solutions, Hufcor and Mersive Technologies.

OpenGate Capital has a team of 34 people in the firm’s Los Angeles and Paris offices executing on the firm’s integrated value creation strategy of sourcing, execution and operations which is applied throughout an investment’s life cycle.

About OpenGate Capital
OpenGate Capital is a global private equity firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of businesses to create new value through operational improvements, innovation and growth. Established in 2005, OpenGate Capital is headquartered in Los Angeles, California with a European office in Paris, France. OpenGate’s professionals possess the critical skills needed to acquire, transition, operate, build and scale successful businesses. To date, OpenGate Capital, through its legacy and fund investments, has executed more than 30 acquisitions including corporate carve-outs, management buy-outs, special situations and transactions with private sellers across North America and Europe. To learn more about OpenGate, please visit www.opengatecapital.com.