Water Street Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm focused exclusively on the health care industry, announces that Robert B. Womsley has agreed to join the firm as a partner, effective 1 July.
A senior partner with Citi Private Equity, Womsley, 45, will work with Water Street’s team of senior investment professionals and health care executives to identify new investment opportunities and support its growing group of health care companies.
Womsley brings more than 20 years of investment experience to Water Street. In his recent position as European head of Citi Private Equity, he led more than USD1 billion of transactions. Previously, Womsley was managing director and global head of Citi’s private equity placement group. Womsley received his bachelor’s degree in history from Vanderbilt University and master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Since raising its first fund in 2006, Water Street has completed 16 investments and built 10 health care companies. During the same time period, it has more than doubled the size of its team. The firm recently announced that it closed its eighth acquisition in the past 10 months.
“We are excited to have a leader of Rob’s investment acumen and experience join our team,” says Tim Dugan, managing partner, Water Street Healthcare Partners. “We have continued to identify and complete a number of new investments over the past year, and have been selectively looking for another partner to help advance our active pipeline.”
“We’ve known Rob for many years, and we believe his global experience, solid judgment and strong track record of achieving results make him an ideal fit with our senior leadership team. Additionally, his worldwide contacts will be valuable for enhancing our extensive network of industry relationships.”
“I’m looking forward to returning to Chicago to join Water Street and its dynamic team of leaders,” says Womsley. “As I’ve interacted with Water Street’s team over the years, I’ve appreciated their deep expertise and unique investment approach. The results that Water Street has achieved in three years since raising its first fund speak volumes to the effectiveness of the strategy. I am thrilled to become a member of the team, and play an active role in future investments and growth.”
L.D.