Uplift Taps Veteran Strategist to Master M&A Integration

DARIEN, Conn. – March 10, 2026 – Services-focused investment firm Uplift Investors has announced the appointment of Evan Trent as its new Chief Strategy Officer, a move that signals a deliberate focus on mastering the complex art of post-acquisition integration. Based in Chicago, Trent will take the helm of the firm’s newly formed M&A and Integration Value Creation Center, a role that underscores a growing imperative within private equity: deal value is realized not at closing, but through meticulous execution long after.

Trent’s appointment comes as Uplift seeks to institutionalize its distinct investment philosophy and scale its operations. He is tasked not only with partnering with portfolio companies to drive M&A and transformation but also with overseeing the internal deployment of Uplift’s own strategic plan.

A Strategic Hire for a Scaling Firm

The decision to bring on a seasoned executive with Trent’s background reflects a pivotal moment for Uplift. “We are pleased to welcome Evan to the Uplift team at this formative stage in our firm’s growth,” said Brad Skaf, Managing Partner at Uplift. The hire is explicitly aimed at leveraging Trent’s expertise to create a more systematic approach to growth. “Evan’s experience working within our sectors of focus to build repeatable processes for integration and strategy deployment will be instrumental as we institutionalize and scale our approach to value creation across the portfolio and within Uplift.”

Trent brings more than 25 years of leadership experience from a diverse set of environments, including private equity-backed, startup, and publicly traded companies. His career is marked by roles centered on growth and enterprise value creation. Prior to joining Uplift, he held senior positions at Covista (NYSE: CVSA), including President of Elevate and Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer. There, he led major acquisitions and divestitures, launched a new healthcare workforce venture, and notably established the company’s first Transformation Office—a direct parallel to his new role at Uplift.

His resume also includes serving as CFO and COO of Harbor Global, Global Head of Strategy and Corporate Development at Heidrick & Struggles (NASDAQ: HSII), and holding leadership roles at Sterling Partners, where he was SVP of Corporate Development at the portfolio company School of Rock. This extensive track record in M&A execution and strategic transformation makes him a key asset for a firm looking to build a durable, repeatable model for success.

“I am thrilled to join Uplift as the firm continues to expand its platform and capabilities,” Mr. Trent stated. “Uplift’s differentiated investment model creates a strong foundation for executing a disciplined, repeatable value creation strategy. I look forward to partnering with Will, Doug, and Brad to drive meaningful impact across our portfolio.”

The '5-5-5 Framework' and the Integration Imperative

At the core of Uplift’s strategy is its unique “5-5-5 Framework,” a disciplined methodology that guides its investment decisions. The framework targets companies at the intersection of five specific business models (dual-sided networks, functional outsourcing, professional services, route-based services, and information services) and five high-growth services sectors (knowledge and talent solutions, legal services, technical trades, financial services, and industrial services).

However, the framework’s third pillar is where Trent’s role becomes critical: capitalizing on five scalable value creation initiatives. These include organizational design, go-to-market excellence, talent optimization, and technology enablement, but are headlined by M&A and integration. By establishing a dedicated “Value Creation Center” for this purpose, Uplift is formalizing a function that is increasingly seen as the primary driver of returns in a competitive market.

Industry analysts note that the private equity landscape has matured beyond pure financial engineering and deal-making. The most successful firms now differentiate themselves through deep operational involvement and the ability to execute complex post-merger integrations effectively. Creating a dedicated leadership role and center for this function signals a commitment to making integration a core competency rather than an ad-hoc, post-deal scramble.

Navigating the Complexities of Services M&A

Uplift’s focus on the services sector makes the emphasis on integration particularly astute. Unlike manufacturing or asset-heavy industries, the primary assets of services firms are their people, processes, and client relationships. M&A in this space is fraught with unique challenges that can quickly erode a deal’s intended value.

Talent retention is paramount. In professional services, legal services, and knowledge solutions, the expertise and client connections of key employees are the bedrock of the business. A poorly managed integration can lead to cultural clashes, plummeting morale, and an exodus of the very talent the acquisition was meant to secure. Best practices demand a “people-first” approach, with clear communication and a deliberate effort to blend cultures constructively.

Furthermore, many of Uplift’s target sectors, such as financial and legal services, operate under stringent regulatory regimes. Integrating these businesses requires navigating a complex web of compliance and operational hurdles where missteps can be costly. Trent’s new center is designed to be a hub of expertise that can guide portfolio companies through these challenges, ensuring that integrations are not only culturally sound but also operationally and regulatorily compliant.

A Differentiated Play in a Competitive Field

The services industry remains a hotbed for private equity investment, with firms attracted to its recurring revenue streams, growth potential, and fragmented markets ripe for consolidation. From professional services to route-based businesses like landscaping, PE firms are actively pursuing “buy and build” strategies. In this crowded field, a clear, executable strategy is a key competitive advantage.

Uplift’s “5-5-5 Framework” already provides a structured thesis for investment. The firm’s first platform investment, the formation of Orion Legal MSO to support plaintiff law firms, serves as a clear example of this model in action—targeting the legal services sector with a functional outsourcing business model. The appointment of a Chief Strategy Officer dedicated to M&A and integration builds on this foundation by creating a robust engine for executing the “build” part of the strategy.

By investing in top-tier strategic leadership, Uplift is betting that its ability to successfully buy, integrate, and scale services companies will be its ultimate differentiator. The creation of the M&A and Integration Value Creation Center under Evan Trent is a clear statement that for Uplift, the deal is just the beginning of the journey to creating lasting value.