Michael R. Eisenson
Michael R. Eisenson | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Private equity executive |
| Known for | Managing director and co-chairman of Charlesbank Capital Partners |
Michael R. Eisenson holds the positions of managing director and co-chairman at Charlesbank Capital Partners, LLC, a private equity firm with offices in Boston and New York. He co-established Charlesbank in 1998 and led the company as CEO until 2017. The firm's most recent fundraising effort, Charlesbank Equity Fund IX, secured $2.75 billion in capital commitments in 2017.
Early life
Eisenson graduated summa cum laude with a BA in economics from Williams College, where he currently chairs the Board of Trustees. He also earned a combined JD/MBA degree from Yale University in 1981.
Career
Prior to founding Charlesbank, Eisenson was responsible for asset management at Harvard Management Company, starting in 1986 and eventually becoming managing director. In this role, he oversaw Harvard Private Capital Group’s investment portfolio on behalf of Harvard University. His earlier professional experience includes tenure at the Boston Consulting Group.
During his time at Harvard Management Company, Eisenson served on the board of Harken Energy amid its acquisition of Spectrum VII, an oil enterprise associated with George W. Bush; Harvard realized a modest gain from this transaction.
Charlesbank specializes in leveraged buyout transactions targeting middle-market firms valued between $150 million and $1.5 billion, managing assets exceeding $5 billion sourced from pension funds, foundations, and endowments. Eisenson prioritizes investments in undervalued companies over high-profile sectors and deliberately excludes industries such as debt collection agencies from its portfolio.
The firm's name pays homage to its Boston heritage and ties to Harvard University, situated along the Charles River. Initially focused exclusively on managing Harvard’s assets, Charlesbank has since expanded to maintain locations in both New York City and Boston.
Personal life
Eisenson holds board memberships at Penske Auto Group and StoneCastle Partners. In 2017, he was honored with the Myra H. Kraft Award for Non-Profit Leadership by the National Association for Corporate Directors, while in 2011 he received recognition from the Outstanding Directors Exchange for his governance contributions. His philanthropic commitments include trusteeships at The Boston Foundation, the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, and chairmanship of the Board at Williams College. Additionally, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Board at Berklee College of Music and is a founding director of Horizons for Homeless Children. In 2013, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay awarded him the James J. Pallotta Award for his dedication to supporting vulnerable youth.
Residing in Boston with his wife Barbara, Eisenson is a father to four adult children.
As a member of the Jewish community, he actively supports the Ruderman Family Foundation, which focuses on Jewish causes and educational programs within Greater Boston.
Eisenson has financially backed political candidates such as Barack Obama, Martha Coakley, John Kerry, and Mitt Romney.
His leisure pursuits include skiing, traveling, playing tennis, and enjoying music.