Following a record year of investment and fundraising activity in 2018, Churchill Asset Management (Churchill), a majority-owned affiliate of Nuveen focussed on originating, underwriting and managing middle market senior loan investments, has promoted Mat Linett, Managing Director, from Deputy Head of Underwriting and Portfolio Management to Head of Underwriting, and Eric Wieczorek to Managing Director, Underwriting and Portfolio Management.
Linett will be responsible for overseeing all underwriting activities at Churchill, working closely with George Kurteson, Head of Portfolio Management. Linett joined the company in April 2015 and has been integral in leading numerous investments, building out the firm’s risk management infrastructure and helping to recruit and mentor a talented group of underwriting professionals. He is a veteran investment professional who brings over two decades of leveraged finance experience to the company with a strong focus on the middle market. Linett will also become a member of Churchill’s Investment Committee.
In his new role, Eric Wieczorek will be responsible for evaluating, structuring, closing and monitoring direct lending opportunities including providing ongoing support, management and analysis of the firm’s CLO vehicles. He also joined Churchill in April 2015 and has over twenty years’ experience evaluating investment opportunities across the capital structure.
Additionally, the firm has announced several more promotions across the investment and finance teams, effective 1 March 2019:
• Nicholas Carroll to Senior Associate, Underwriting & Portfolio Management
• Tyler Donofrio to Associate, Underwriting & Portfolio Management
• Sam Gonzalez-Gross to Associate, Underwriting & Portfolio Management; and
• Kyle Linnemeyer to Senior Associate, Finance and Accounting.
“We are delighted to recognise Mat, Eric, Nicholas, Tyler, Sam and Kyle for their meaningful contributions to our firm’s success,” says Ken Kencel, President and CEO of Churchill. “At Churchill, we are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse team of exceptional professionals. With over 25 dedicated investment professionals and a senior management team that has worked together for over 13 years, Churchill continues to enhance and strengthen our firm, which now ranks among the most active middle market credit managers in the US. We are proud of our firm’s strong historical growth and look forward to continuing to build long-term value for our investors, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.”
