Kip Kirkpatrick is a founding partner and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Vistria, LLC, a private investment firm focused on building market leading companies in the healthcare, education and financial services industries.
Prior to Vistria, Kip co-founded two prominent private equity firms. In 2001, he was part of the team that created One Equity Partners, the former private investment arm of JP Morgan Chase. Three years later Kip co-founded Water Street Healthcare Partners, which at the time of his involvement was one of the most active investors in middle market healthcare companies.
From 2011 to 2013, Kip served as Chief Executive Officer of United Shore Financial Services LLC, one of the nation’s leading independent mortgage lenders. After joining USFS in 2011, Kip rapidly built the company’s national presence through a number of high-profile executive hires and an industry-leading commitment to effective risk management. USFS hired over 800 employees during Kip’s tenure and was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in Michigan. Recognizing the importance of workplace culture, Kip transformed USFS into one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in Metropolitan Detroit” in 2012, according to the Michigan Business & Professional Association and “One of the Top Workplaces 2012” by the Detroit Free Press.
Kip has served on numerous boards during his career, including as Chairman of the Board of Medulla LLC, PLUS Diagnostics and Precision Dynamics Corporation, and as a board member of Supplemental Healthcare, Caremetx, AbilityOne Corporation, Medex Corporation, and CareCentrix. Distinguished by complex carve-outs of larger corporations and successful partnerships with middle-market entrepreneurs, his leadership on creative partnerships to build CareCentrix, AbilityOne and Medex has been widely recognized. In 2007, Kip was recognized by Chicago Crain’s “40 under 40” and, in the same year, he was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of its “Up and Comers” in healthcare.
In addition to his corporate board memberships, Kip has been actively involved in philanthropy and service. He is a member of the Board of Trustees at Northwestern University and Rush University Medical Center. He also serves on the Global Advisory Board at Kellogg and as co-chair emeritus for the Chicago Council of the Northwestern University Leadership Circle. Kip’s background in civic affairs also includes the establishment of an exploratory committee for the office of Illinois State Treasurer that raised record funds in a brief period of time.
Kip received a bachelor’s degree in history from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business. At Northwestern, Kip was honored with several leadership and athletic awards as a three-year starter on the men’s basketball team and was nominated for the GTE Academic All-American team.
Kip and his wife, Sara, a former teacher in the Chicago Public Schools, have four children.
