Cresta Fortifies Leadership to Fuel Its Energy Infrastructure Ambitions

DALLAS, TX – December 04, 2025 – In a move signaling a significant acceleration of its growth strategy, Dallas-based private equity firm Cresta Fund Management has fortified its senior leadership team. The firm, which specializes in energy infrastructure, announced the appointment of private markets veteran David Altshuler as Partner and Head of Capital Formation, alongside the promotions of Wade Webber to Partner and Jordan Maxwell to Chief Financial Officer.

While leadership changes are common in the fast-paced world of private equity, Cresta's announcement is more than a routine shuffle. It represents a calculated maneuver to scale its capital-raising engine and deepen its strategic execution at a pivotal moment for the energy sector. With a dual focus on both sustainable and conventional energy assets, the firm is positioning its human capital to navigate the complexities of the global energy transition and unlock billions in new investment opportunities.

The New Architect of Capital Formation

At the heart of Cresta’s strategic push is the recruitment of David Altshuler, a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience building and leading capital-raising efforts at major investment firms. His arrival is a clear signal of Cresta’s intent to aggressively expand its investor base beyond its current platform, which manages assets approaching $2 billion.

Altshuler’s track record is formidable. Prior to joining Cresta, he served as a Partner at Quantum Capital Group, a heavyweight in energy investing, where he was instrumental in capital formation initiatives during a period when the firm successfully raised over $10 billion across its platforms. Before that, he led North American client solutions for IFM Investors and was a founding partner of the Infrastructure & Real Assets business at StepStone Group, a global private markets giant. His career has been defined by his ability to forge deep relationships with global institutional allocators—the pension funds, endowments, and sovereign wealth funds that are the lifeblood of private equity.

"David's deep expertise in private markets and infrastructure, coupled with his institutional relationships and client-centric approach, make him an exceptional addition to Cresta," said Chris Rozzell, Managing Partner of Cresta, in the official announcement. "As we continue expanding our investor base and broadening our platform, we're confident David will further accelerate our ability to deliver value to our investors."

Bringing on a rainmaker of Altshuler's caliber is a strategic necessity in today's competitive fundraising landscape. Private equity firms are navigating a complex environment marked by investor caution, economic volatility, and a crowded field of managers. Success no longer hinges just on a strong investment thesis, but on the ability to articulate that thesis compellingly and secure commitments from discerning global investors. Altshuler’s role will be to architect and execute this crucial function for Cresta.

Powering a Dual-Pronged Energy Strategy

Cresta’s leadership expansion is not just about raising more capital; it's about deploying it effectively across a deliberately diversified energy portfolio. Unlike firms that focus exclusively on renewables or cling solely to traditional oil and gas, Cresta has carved out a niche by investing across the energy spectrum. This dual-pronged strategy allows it to capture value in the burgeoning green economy while also capitalizing on the ongoing need for conventional energy infrastructure.

The firm’s portfolio reflects this balanced approach. On the sustainable front, Cresta has made significant investments in companies like Braya Renewable Fuels, which operates a converted refinery producing renewable diesel, and Lapis Energy, a developer of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) solutions. These investments are aligned with the massive tailwinds from policies like the Inflation Reduction Act, which provides substantial incentives for low-carbon projects. The firm is reportedly raising its second sustainability-focused fund, targeting $650 million to double down on this thesis.

Simultaneously, Cresta remains active in conventional energy infrastructure through portfolio companies like Sentinel Midstream, which owns and operates critical oil pipeline and terminal infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico. This is where the promotion of Wade Webber to Partner becomes particularly significant. Having joined Cresta in 2017 after a stint at NGP Energy Capital focusing on midstream and upstream oil and gas, Webber brings deep domain expertise in executing and managing these complex assets. His elevation to Partner solidifies the firm's commitment to maintaining its edge in this vital, albeit more traditional, sector.

This balanced portfolio strategy requires a leadership team with diverse expertise. The combination of Altshuler’s capital-raising prowess for both green and traditional assets, Webber’s deal execution and management skills, and the financial oversight of newly promoted CFO Jordan Maxwell creates a robust operational core. This structure is designed to give institutional investors confidence that Cresta can successfully navigate the full lifecycle of its investments, from fundraising and acquisition to value creation and eventual exit.

Cultivating Talent for Long-Term Growth

Beyond the strategic implications, Cresta’s latest moves offer a compelling case study in private equity talent management. The firm is demonstrating a sophisticated approach that blends the infusion of top-tier external expertise with a commitment to nurturing and promoting its own talent. This two-part strategy is crucial for building a resilient and cohesive firm culture capable of sustained performance.

The promotions of Wade Webber and Jordan Maxwell, both of whom joined the firm in 2017, underscore a culture of meritocracy. Webber’s advancement from Vice President to Partner is a direct reflection of his "strong leadership and thoughtful strategic direction," as the firm noted. His journey showcases a clear path for advancement based on contribution to deal sourcing, execution, and portfolio management.

Similarly, Jordan Maxwell’s promotion from Controller to CFO acknowledges his foundational role in building the firm's financial infrastructure. As a Certified Public Accountant with over a decade of experience, Maxwell has been responsible for the critical, behind-the-scenes work of financial reporting, compliance, and audits. Elevating him to the C-suite ensures continuity and reinforces the importance of strong financial controls and transparency as Cresta prepares for its next phase of growth. This approach of promoting from within fosters loyalty, retains institutional knowledge, and provides a powerful motivator for the entire team.

By pairing these internal advancements with a high-profile external hire like Altshuler, Cresta is building a leadership team that combines fresh perspectives and new relationships with deep, proven understanding of the firm's own culture and processes. This hybrid model can be a powerful engine for innovation, preventing the insularity that can sometimes affect firms that only promote from within, while also avoiding the disruption that can come from a complete overhaul of senior leadership. It’s a balanced approach to human capital that mirrors the firm’s balanced investment strategy.

This strategic reinforcement comes at a time when the energy sector represents what many analysts call a "generational opportunity" for investment. The global transition to a lower-carbon economy requires unprecedented capital deployment in new technologies and infrastructure, a need that patient private equity capital is uniquely positioned to meet. Cresta is clearly positioning itself not just to participate in this transformation, but to be a significant player in financing and building the energy infrastructure of the future. The firm's newly expanded leadership team is now tasked with turning that ambition into a reality.