Vistria’s Amy Christensen Recognized by Buyouts Magazine as an ‘Industry Leader’ in Private Equity
Amy Christensen, Partner and Co-Head of Healthcare for The Vistria Group, was recognized on Tuesday as an industry leader by Buyouts magazine, which features an annual “Women in Private Equity” series. The magazine, a PE Hub network publication, selected 10 women rockstars who are shaping the future of the industry. The award recognizes women trailblazers who are dealmakers at their firms.
“The litmus test for success was, ‘What kind of impact are you making in the world?’ That is how I was raised,” Amy says, noting that her father worked for a nonprofit organization that focused on bringing resources to undeveloped countries.
Amy joined The Vistria Group as a founding member in 2013. At the time, Amy had developed an impressive career within financial services. Her passion to make a difference motivated her to take a risk, leave a successful firm and embark on a new venture built on impact. That became The Vistria Group. Since then, under Amy’s leadership, The Vistria Group has raised four funds, the latest being $2.7 billion and now $7 billion in AUM, while also continuing to execute its mission of investing with purpose and contributing toward positive social change.
Within her role at The Vistria Group, Amy is co-head of the firm’s healthcare practice, specializing in women’s health, behavioral health and payor services. Her work primarily focuses on improving women’s access to quality healthcare, particularly within the realm of OB/GYN providers, NIC-U optimization, cost containment solutions, and enabling Value Based Care benefits management.
Beyond women’s health, Amy is deeply passionate about the need to increase access to treatment for those suffering with mental and behavioral health disorders with a focus on outpatient services, practice management and services for behavioral health providers. In addition, Amy seeks to improve care and benefits management, workflow optimization and population health solutions within payor services.
Prior to joining The Vistria Group, Amy was Vice President at NewSpring Capital, a middle market private equity firm with a family of funds, including a dedicated healthcare fund. At NewSpring, she was responsible for the sourcing, due diligence, execution, and portfolio management of companies in healthcare. Before NewSpring, Amy held a number of roles that developed her financial acumen, working as a summer associate with the Gores Group and as an associate with Calder Capital Partners. Amy began her career with the Huron Consulting Group where she was responsible for designing, implementing and managing key strategic and operational initiatives for large healthcare organizations.
Amy led the firm’s transactions with Supplemental Healthcare, a leading healthcare staffing and workforce solutions provider, which included a recent strategic partnership with Apollo Impact Mission. The partnership will accelerate the growth of Supplemental Health Care. Amy negotiated the new arrangement that places Vistria Fund IV and Apollo Impact Mission as equal owners with the liquidation of Vistria’s current holding made in 2015.
She also led The Vistria Group’s investment in Behavioral Health Group, the largest network of Joint Commission-accredited outpatient opioid treatment and recovery centers in the United States. Last week, Behavioral Health Group announced its new acquisition of Center for Behavioral Health, enabling it to expand access to life-saving treatment at a time when overdose deaths have reached a record high. Through this acquisition, Behavioral Health Group will now operate 116 treatment facilities and two labs across 23 states.
Amy serves on the Boards of Directors of Alacura, Chiro One, St. Croix Hospice, Medulla, Supplemental Healthcare, and Behavioral Health Group.
About The Vistria Group
The Vistria Group is a Chicago-based next generation private investment firm that operates at the intersection of purpose and profit. Vistria partners with middle-market businesses in Healthcare, Education and Financial Services that are passionate about growth and committed to the community. Our decision to invest in these areas is driven by our belief in companies producing scalable social value. Vistria’s team is comprised of highly experienced operating partners and investment professionals with proven track records of working with management teams in building innovative, market-leading companies.
