PE Firm CenterOak Partners Names New Managing Director, New CFO

Dallas-based private equity firm CenterOak Partners announced in September that it has added Rich Reuter as managing director and Chris Golz as chief financial officer, expanding its investment and operational leadership team.

CenterOak, which invests in lower middle-market private companies, currently manages more than $2.5 billion of equity capital commitments across three funds and has completed more than 180 transactions.

“We are pleased to welcome both Rich and Chris to CenterOak,” CEO and founder Randall Fojtasek said in a statement. “Rich brings extensive middle market investing experience that aligns with CenterOak’s strategy, and Chris adds deep expertise in finance and compliance. Together, they will strengthen our team and play a key role in supporting strong outcomes for our investors.”

Reuter will provide senior support across the firm’s investment process, including deal origination, execution, and portfolio value enhancement. He was previously a managing director at Garnett Station Partners and held investment roles at KarpReilly and Barclays Capital.

Golz will oversee finance, accounting, and compliance for the firm. He brings more than a decade of experience in fund operations, financial reporting, and regulatory oversight. Most recently, he served as CFO and chief compliance officer at Latticework Capital Management. He also held finance roles at Maverick Capital, Baker Tilly, and KPMG.

“The addition of two senior professionals reflects the continued momentum following the close of our oversubscribed Fund III,” Managing Partner Jason Sutherland said in a statement. “In the last twelve months, we’ve closed approximately 20 platform and add-on acquisitions and an exit. Strengthening both our investment and operations functions positions us well to build on that success.”