AEA Elevate Bolsters Operating Team with Two Key Hires
Event summary
- AEA Elevate added Preston Hayes as Head of Portfolio M&A and Capital Markets and Kirk Goodman as Head of Portfolio Go-To-Market on February 18, 2026.
- Hayes previously worked at Ares Management and Penn Hill Capital, focusing on tech-enabled services investments.
- Goodman brings experience leading commercial organizations at high-growth, technology-enabled healthcare and business services companies.
- AEA Elevate manages funds with approximately $18 billion of invested and committed capital.
The big picture
AEA Elevate's strategic hires underscore a broader trend in private equity towards deepening operational expertise to drive portfolio company growth. With $18 billion in assets under management, the firm is positioning itself to better support technology-enabled business services, healthcare services, and software companies through heightened financial and operational complexity. The additions of Hayes and Goodman reflect a focus on scaling go-to-market strategies and M&A execution, critical areas as businesses mature and compete in demanding markets.
What we're watching
- Execution Risk
- How the new hires will integrate and accelerate value creation across AEA Elevate's portfolio.
- Market Positioning
- Whether AEA Elevate can sustain its competitive edge in the professional services-focused growth buyout space.
- Portfolio Performance
- The pace at which AEA Elevate's SLATE Framework drives digital transformation and enhances unit economics in portfolio companies.