Star Mountain Capital, an investment manager focused on the U.S. lower middle markets, promoted Chris Goodwin, former co-head of merchant banking for BNP Paribas, to managing director. The company also opened a Dallas office, which Goodwin will lead. Goodwin has more than 30 years of experience as a leveraged finance banker, private equity investor and C-level operating executive. Godwin’s new role is an expansion of his previous role as operating partner at Star Mountain Capital.

“We are delighted to have one of our operating partners expand his role and become full-time,” Brett Hickey, founder and CEO of Star Mountain Capital, said. “A Texas native, Chris has extensive operating and investment experience and relationships from a 30 plus year career based in Dallas and will deepen Star Mountain’s network of relationship and investment activities in Texas and the broader region. An experienced operating executive, he will help Star Mountain continue to provide value to portfolio company investments by helping business owners strategize and execute organic and strategic acquisition growth plans to achieve success.”

“My career has been focused on supporting the growth of lower middle market businesses as both a capital provider and operator,” Goodwin said. “Star Mountain’s flexible and customizable capital and ability to add operating expertise through its impressive Collaborative Ecosystem of senior advisors and operating partners make the firm distinctively positioned to capitalize on this segment of the market. I am excited to expand my role with Star Mountain and look forward to further supporting the growth of private, established and growing small and medium-sized businesses in the Southwest.”

Goodwin served at BNP Paribas for 15 years, eventually as co-head of the merchant banking group. Prior to BNP, he served as director of financial services and corporate platforms for Hudson Advisors, the captive asset management firm for Lone Star Funds. Goodwin also served as vice president at The Fuji Bank and began his banking career with Mbank (now part of JP Morgan Chase).