Carl Thoma: PE Must Coach, Mentor Management

Dec. 10, 2012 - PRLog -- The Changing Face of PE

The private equity market has changed greatly over the three decades that Carl Thoma, Managing Partner of Thoma Bravo, has been in the business. In a Privcap interview, Thoma describes why and how his firm transitioned from a financially focused investor to one that deploys operating partners as “coaches and mentors” for portfolio company executives. He also discusses his firm’s preference for sticking with original management post-acquisition and analyzes the increasing competitiveness in the buyout world.

View the full video interview here - http://www.privcap.com/programs/230-the-changing-face-of-pe

Carl Thoma
Managing Partner
Thoma Bravo
Carl D. Thoma is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Thoma Bravo, LLC. He was a Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Thoma Cressey Bravo. Thoma was a Co-Founder and a Managing Director at GTCR, LLC and its predecessor funds, since 1980. He began his career at First Chicago Equity Group where he helped build one of the largest and active private equity firms in the country. He served as the Chairman of NES Rentals Holdings Inc. since it was founded in June 1996; Global Imaging Systems Inc., from June 1994 to October 2003. He serves as Director of FutureSource Communications, Inc. Thoma serves as a Director of Scientech Inc.; American Amicable Holding; Datatel, Inc; Desgrippes Gobe Group; Excelligence Learning Corporation; Global DocuGraphiX; LAGA; Meridian Mortuary Group; Viecore; and Local Media of America, Inc. Thoma served as the Chairman of National Equipment Services Inc., from June 1996 to October 2003. He was a Director of NES Rentals Holdings Inc. He served a Director of Global Imaging Systems Inc. from June 1994 to August 2004. He served as Director of LECG Corporation. He served as a Director of Paging Network Inc, since 1981 and as a Director of MS Financial, Inc. since 1994. He served as Director of Eclipse Networks. He served as Director of American Amicable Life Insurance Company Of Texas since February 7, 2000. He serves as Chairman Emeritus at The Illinois Venture Capital Association. He serves as a Member of the Advisory Council at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Thoma was the President and Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association. Thoma has also received the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. Thoma received an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Accounting and Agriculture Economics from Oklahoma State University.