New Hires Expand McNally Capital’s Operations and Deal Teams
McNally Capital, a private equity firm focused on acquiring founder-, family-, and management-owned businesses in the lower middle market, has announced the addition of five experienced professionals to its team. Gus Pinto, Tim Gossett, Rob Kirk, and Ryan McDonough will be joining the Portfolio Operations Team, while Grace Chatas will be joining the Deal Team. These new hires will help McNally Capital continue its commitment to driving transformative value for its portfolio companies.
As McNally Capital continues to expand its capabilities in operations and technology, the addition of these five professionals will strengthen its ability to drive performance improvements, digital transformation, and strategic growth. With significant experience in various sectors, these hires bring expertise that will enhance McNally’s operational and technological approach to driving results at the portfolio level.
Lou Rassey, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of McNally Capital, expressed his excitement about the new team members. “Our ability to drive transformative value for our portfolio companies is strengthened by our continued investment in operational and technology expertise. Gus, Tim, Rob, and Ryan bring significant experience in performance improvement, digital transformation, and strategic growth. Grace further strengthens our Deal Team and transaction execution capabilities. We are thrilled to welcome them to the McNally Capital team.”
McNally Capital’s Portfolio Operations Team plays a critical role in executing the firm’s proprietary value creation strategy, Atlas. This strategy equips portfolio companies with the strategic guidance and hands-on expertise needed to accelerate growth. The team’s work goes beyond simply delivering results at the portfolio level. They are also responsible for building and scaling McNally Capital’s firmwide capabilities in areas like strategy-setting, operational excellence, artificial intelligence (AI) and software-driven innovation, and digital transformation.
The team members’ diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise position them to provide essential support in value creation efforts across the portfolio. The operations team combines broad leadership in value creation with deep functional specialization. Gus Pinto and Tim Gossett bring deep knowledge of software, AI, and digital transformation to support these high-impact value-creation levers. Their expertise will be vital to scaling McNally’s technology-driven innovation strategies across its portfolio. Rob Kirk and Ryan McDonough will focus on full-spectrum value creation across McNally’s portfolio, from strategy-setting to 100-day planning and post-close value capture.
Here’s a closer look at the team members and their roles at McNally Capital:
Gus Pinto – Principal, Portfolio Operations
Gus Pinto joins McNally Capital to lead software strategy and development across the firm’s portfolio companies and internal operations. With over 20 years of experience in technology leadership, product development, and business operations, Gus has built and scaled software solutions that drive business growth and improve operational efficiency. Before joining McNally Capital, Gus served as the Chief Product and Technology Officer at SyBridge and held leadership roles at Fast Radius, Magic Leap, and Citrix. Gus specializes in AI-enabled workflow automation, software-driven business operations, cloud computing, and digital transformation. His wealth of knowledge in these areas will be crucial in helping McNally’s portfolio companies navigate their technology challenges.
Tim Gossett – Vice President, Portfolio Operations
Tim Gossett brings extensive expertise in cloud architecture, AI, and software-driven enterprise solutions. At McNally Capital, Tim will focus on digital transformation and AI integration within the firm’s portfolio companies. He has held leadership roles at SyBridge Technologies, Fast Radius, and Bellhop, where he led cloud architecture, software prototyping, and optimization algorithm development. Tim’s expertise in leveraging digital innovation will play an essential role in modernizing the IT foundations across McNally’s portfolio and ensuring that each portfolio company is well-equipped for the future.
Rob Kirk – Vice President, Portfolio Operations
Rob Kirk has significant experience in strategy, M&A, and business transformation. Prior to joining McNally Capital, he was a Principal at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he worked extensively in the Private Equity practice. He advised clients across various industries on value creation initiatives, including business strategy, go-to-market strategy, and operational execution. Rob’s experience in business transformation and operational excellence will be critical in strengthening McNally Capital’s portfolio companies. His background in strategic leadership will enhance McNally’s ability to create long-term value for portfolio companies through operational optimization and growth strategies.
Ryan McDonough – Vice President, Portfolio Operations
Ryan McDonough joins McNally Capital from Bain & Company, where he advised clients in aerospace & defense and advanced manufacturing on strategy, operational performance improvement, and value creation. Before his time at Bain, Ryan held leadership roles at a defense technology company and served as a U.S. Navy bomb disposal officer. His extensive background in performance improvement and operational strategy will be essential in supporting McNally Capital’s value creation initiatives. Ryan’s hands-on experience in transforming business operations and driving performance improvement will be invaluable in accelerating the success of McNally’s portfolio companies.
Grace Chatas – Deal Team
Grace Chatas joins McNally Capital’s Deal Team, further enhancing the firm’s transaction execution capabilities. While her specific role was not detailed in the announcement, her addition to the team will undoubtedly contribute to the firm’s continued success in sourcing and executing deals. Grace will play an integral part in expanding McNally Capital’s reach and ensuring that the firm continues to execute on its strategic investment approach, adding value to the firm’s portfolio through its focused acquisition strategy.
McNally Capital’s Focus on Operational and Technological Expertise
McNally Capital’s unique value creation model focuses on improving the operational and technological capabilities of its portfolio companies. By leveraging the deep expertise of its Portfolio Operations Team, McNally works closely with companies to implement business transformation strategies that drive sustainable growth. In particular, the firm emphasizes digital transformation, AI, and cloud computing, helping companies modernize their operations and enhance efficiency.
This approach allows McNally Capital to provide portfolio companies with the tools, technologies, and guidance needed to scale and remain competitive in an increasingly digital world. By ensuring that each company is equipped to thrive in the digital age, McNally Capital maximizes the potential for long-term value creation.
McNally’s Portfolio Operations Team and Deal Team have a shared goal of driving results that will yield value across the entire investment lifecycle. With these five new hires, McNally Capital is well-positioned to continue executing on its mission to support founder-, family-, and management-owned businesses in the lower middle market, while helping them grow and succeed in the digital economy.
By investing in talent, technology, and operational expertise, McNally Capital is strengthening its ability to create value for portfolio companies, drive operational performance improvements, and deliver long-term growth.
As McNally Capital continues to build on its success, the addition of these five professionals will help further solidify the firm’s standing as a leading private equity firm with a robust, technology-enabled approach to portfolio management.
