Our Team
Conner Esworthy, CEO / Partner
Conner Esworthy’s career in the financial services industry spans a decade, most recently as a Vice President at Welsh, Carson, Anderson, and Stowe (WCAS), a prominent healthcare investor with 40 years of expertise. At WCAS, Conner evaluated investment opportunities in the healthcare services space and helped launch a PAC coordination company now known as naviHealth. At deal inception, Conner led financial diligence for naviHealth’s platform investment in SeniorMetrix, a post acute discharge tool. Upon closing, she helped execute a multistage growth plan that included naviHealth’s entry into the bundled payment program. Conner’s financial/operating model and complementary monthly reporting system drove new customer acquisition and optimized pricing, helping naviHealth become a leader in PAC solutions throughout the country.
Conner also managed the diligence and acquisition process for InnovAge, the second largest Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) operator in the US. With WCAS backing, InnovAge significantly broadened its geographic presence and increased access to quality and affordable care for dual eligibles. Conner’s work included quantifying size and growth of the addressable market, identifying acquisition opportunities, and coordinating diligence across accounting, regulatory, legal, and healthcare policy executives to construct a viable business case for the partnership.
Conner also worked in healthcare business development at Quartet, a collaborative care technology company that connects physical and mental care for the benefit of providers, payors, and patients. During her time there, she helped launch a partnership between Quartet and Horizon BCBS of New Jersey.
Conner began her career at JPMorgan as an investment banking analyst for private equity transactions. She received a BS in Business Administration from Washington & Lee University (‘06), and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School (‘14).
In addition to her work at Fairlead, Conner also serves as an Advisor to DC-based healthcare policy research firm ATI Advisory.
Karl Gerchow, COO / Partner
Karl Gerchow’s career in the financial services industry also spans a decade, most recently as a Vice President at Greywolf Capital Management LP (Greywolf), a distressed/event-driven hedge fund based out of Purchase, NY. At Greywolf, Karl was responsible for sourcing ideas and investing in the healthcare industry, particularly in the Pharmaceuticals space. The event-driven nature of Greywolf’s portfolio required Karl to not only have a firm grasp of the financial and competitive position of target investments, but also of healthcare-specific regulatory and legal frameworks, including FDA approval processes, patent challenges, and reimbursement mechanisms.
Prior to Greywolf, Karl worked as an Associate at The Carlyle Group in their US Buyout group, where he worked on private equity transactions in the industrials space, interfacing with senior management (CEO, CFO) and producing cash forecasting, product-pricing and volume-sensitivity models for large, multi-billion-dollar portfolio companies. He also managed accounting, tax, bank-financing, legal and environmental consultant workstreams for existing and prospective investments.
Karl also began his career at JPMorgan as an investment banking analyst within the private equity transactions group. He received a BS in Finance and International Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business (‘06), and holds an MBA from UPENN’s Wharton School of Business (‘12).