Upwelling Capital Group announced it hired Robert Rakowski as a principal of the firm.

Rakowski, 45, brings more than 20 years of financial industry experience to support Upwelling’s core offerings of legacy portfolio solutions, asset management and strategy consulting services for institutional alternative investors.

“I am pleased to add Robert to the Upwelling team because he brings a rare combination of asset management experience and a successful track record of turning around underperforming investments,” commented Joncarlo Mark, founder of Upwelling. “His expertise in strategy, financial restructuring and private equity finance will prove valuable in helping our clients address the challenge of managing complex legacy alternative assets.”

Rakowski is based in Connecticut, which provides Upwelling with a physical presence on the East Coast.

“I’m excited to join Upwelling and address the huge opportunity within the private equity industry to unlock value from illiquid partnership structures and private direct investments,” said Rakowski.

Rakowski most recently served as executive director with Fifth Street Finance, a private equity finance company. In that role, he was responsible for portfolio management and restructuring of debt and equity investments in middle-market companies.

Before that, Rakowski was director with AlixPartners. His past casework included the successful resolution of a $60 billion regulated Wall Street brokerage and alternative investment management firm.

Rakowski also served as a strategy senior manager with Accenture, where he led and conducted organic-growth and M&A-driven business consulting services in the US and Europe. Rakowski began his career with Arthur Andersen Business Consulting and Deloitte.