Eric Willis

Eric is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Willis & Smith Capital. He has been investing in private equity since 2005, and has spent his entire career helping companies grow and become more profitable in a variety of operating and advisory capacities.

Prior to co-founding Willis & Smith Capital, Eric was a Partner at CounterPoint Capital Partners, a lower middle market operations focused private equity firm based in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for deal origination, transaction evaluation, due diligence, negotiations, and the successful transition and development of portfolio companies. While at CounterPoint Capital Partners, Eric and the firm were awarded Lower Middle Market category Deal of the Year at the M&A Advisor’s 6th Annual Turnaround Awards for its acquisition of POP Displays.

Before joining CounterPoint Capital Partners, Eric was an investment professional at Platinum Equity, an operations focused multi-billion dollar private equity firm based in Los Angeles, where he was responsible for transaction evaluation, due diligence, execution of operational improvements and successful realizations of portfolio investments. Prior to his time at Platinum Equity, Eric was a Manager at Ernst & Young, a global Big Four accounting firm, in their M&A practice focused on quality of earnings diligence for private equity and corporate clients.

During the course of his career in private equity, Eric has served in a variety of operating capacities in portfolio companies; most recently, he served as the transitional CFO of Artcobell prior to placement of Artcobell’s permanent CFO.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University, cum laude and with honors in accountancy. Eric obtained his CPA license from California in 2002 (he is no longer an active member) and has been a CFA charterholder since 2004. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of and owns positions in several companies.