Key Takeaways
- • Angela McCoy, Managing Director at May River, a private equity firm investing in lower middle market industrial businesses, shares her career path from leveraged finance at Bank of America through the 2008 financial crisis, to a family office, and then to May River.
- • McCoy describes starting at May River remotely during the pandemic while pregnant, illustrating a non-linear route into private equity.
- • The conversation argues that sector-focused strategies are gaining traction in today's PE landscape, per the interview.
- • McCoy rejects the "private equity = cost cutters" stereotype and discusses how May River approaches portfolio management.
- • The interview highlights the value of peer networks and building a "personal board of advisors" for career development.
Summary
In a conversation with host Cass for the Parker Gals series, Angela McCoy, Managing Director at May River, outlines her unconventional path into private equity. She began her career in leveraged finance at Bank of America, worked through the 2008 financial crisis, moved to a family office, and ultimately joined May River, a private equity firm focused on lower middle market industrial businesses. She joined the firm remotely during the pandemic while pregnant.
The discussion centers on why McCoy believes sector-focused strategies are winning in the current private equity environment. She also explains how May River approaches portfolio management and pushes back on the perception that private equity firms are primarily cost cutters, arguing that the reality of her work is different from that stereotype.
McCoy also emphasizes the role of peer networks and what she calls a "personal board of advisors" in navigating her career. The episode is framed around the idea that the private equity career path is one that most professionals do not plan for in advance. Figures on May River's fund size, assets under management, or specific portfolio companies were not disclosed in the source material.
The discussion centers on why McCoy believes sector-focused strategies are winning in the current private equity environment. She also explains how May River approaches portfolio management and pushes back on the perception that private equity firms are primarily cost cutters, arguing that the reality of her work is different from that stereotype.
McCoy also emphasizes the role of peer networks and what she calls a "personal board of advisors" in navigating her career. The episode is framed around the idea that the private equity career path is one that most professionals do not plan for in advance. Figures on May River's fund size, assets under management, or specific portfolio companies were not disclosed in the source material.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.