Paul Welch, CFA
Head of Private Equity, Elizabeth Park Capital Management and Portfolio Manager of Mission Driven Bank Fund
Paul is the Head of Private Equity with approximately 23 years of experience investing institutional capital across the corporate capital structure in private and public markets. Over his career, Paul's experience at buy-side investment boutiques covering banks, financial technology companies, and other financial service companies has culminated in deep industry knowledge, perspective, and a broad network. Discipline with flexibility, a long-term investment horizon, and independent thought anchors Paul's investment philosophy.
Before joining Elizabeth Park, Paul was a Vice President and Investment Team member at Patriot Financial Partners, L.P., a leading private equity firm specializing in domestic community bank, thrift, and related financial service company investments. At Patriot, Paul created successful partnerships through sourcing new business, structuring deals, and representing Patriot on portfolio company boards. Before working at Patriot, he was an Equity Partner at PENN Capital Management, where he was the lead Financial Services analyst for both the debt and equity portfolios and managed the Financial Services Strategy. In addition, Paul was co-Portfolio Manager of the Mid-Cap Equity Strategy. After graduating from business school, Paul joined Ariel Investments, covering publicly traded large-cap through micro-cap banks and capital markets firms.
Paul earned his BS in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. Mr. Welch received the Dean's Award of Distinction at Booth. Mr. Welch is a member of the ABA Stonier School of Banking Class of 2023. Mr. Welch is a member of the Investment Committee for the Gesu School, a non-profit Jesuit grade school in North Philadelphia, after serving on the Board of Directors for seven years. Mr. Welch has sponsored a child to attend Gesu since 2011. When not rooting for his Philadelphia Eagles as a season ticket holder, Paul volunteers as an intramural soccer coach and enjoys suburban Philadelphia with his wife, twins, and two dogs.
