VSS Capital Partners, a private investment firm focusing on tech-enabled lower middle market companies in the healthcare, education and business services sectors, added Otilia Ciotau as managing director, AI and value creation.
Ciotau brings more than two decades of senior experience across financial services, including strategic development, finance, risk management, technology and organizational transformation. Before joining VSS, she served as senior advisor to the managing director and CFO of The World Bank Group, where she advised on work across a finance complex responsible for more than $800 billion in assets. Prior, Ciotau held chief economist and director-level roles, spanning business development, capital markets, research and risk management. She built and led multidisciplinary teams, established new functions, redesigned operating models and led transformation initiatives.
“Otilia has already strengthened how we evaluate AI risks and opportunities in our investment process. She developed a framework that we applied across our deals this year, examining how AI could affect growth, margins, competitive position and exit value, as well as where it could create new opportunities,” Jeffrey Stevenson, managing partner of VSS Capital Partners, said. “Otilia will continue working with our portfolio companies to pursue value creation initiatives and identify where AI can make a meaningful difference for lower middle market businesses.”
At VSS, Ciotau will work across the investment lifecycle, connecting investment thesis development and diligence with portfolio company value creation and exit because the assumptions that underpin an investment should inform what is tested in diligence, what is prioritized during ownership and the story at the exit.
“I’m excited to continue working with our portfolio companies to identify and pursue opportunities for growth,” Ciotau said. “AI is expanding access to making capabilities and expertise that once required significant in-house investment accessible to more companies. Yet many lower middle market businesses are still building the dedicated AI resources needed to take full advantage of them. VSS will help portfolio companies identify where these capabilities can create real value and put them to work.”
Ciotau earned a B.A. in economics and finance from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, a B.S. in mathematics and computer science from Bucharest University, and a master’s degree in finance and banking from DoFIN. She is a CFA and CAIA charterholder.
