Golub Capital has appointed Matt Shafer as managing director and head of its GP-led private equity secondaries strategy, Golub Equity Continuation Partners (GECP), as the firm looks to expand its presence in the growing continuation vehicles market.
Shafer will be responsible for developing GECP and broadening Golub Capital’s equity investment capabilities. He will work alongside Greg Cashman, vice chair and co-head of the firm’s Sponsor Finance practice, as the firm seeks to build its activity in the GP-led secondaries sector.
Shafer joins from Northleaf Capital Partners, where he most recently served as head of Capital Solutions and US Private Equity. His responsibilities there included private equity investments spanning secondaries, co-investments and structured capital.
He brings almost 30 years of experience across private equity investing, financing and advisory roles. Before joining Northleaf, Shafer was a partner and head of Americas Private Equity at Vision Capital. Earlier in his career, he spent 12 years in sponsor-focused investment banking positions at CIBC World Markets and Lehman Brothers.
Golub Capital launched GECP in October 2025, targeting continuation vehicles and other transactions that enable private equity sponsors to retain ownership of high-quality portfolio companies while providing liquidity to existing limited partners.
The firm has since assembled a dedicated team combining its underwriting expertise with private equity and secondaries investment experience.
Shafer said the secondaries market had evolved into an established liquidity channel for private equity sponsors, with continuation investments increasingly emerging as a distinct segment.
The appointment comes as GP-led transactions continue to gain prominence as private equity managers seek alternatives to traditional exits and look to hold high-performing assets for longer, while giving LPs an opportunity to realise value from their investments.
Golub Capital said Shafer’s experience in GP-led secondaries will support the further development of its continuation investment strategy and help strengthen its offering to private equity sponsors, portfolio companies and investors.
