# Kip Kirkpatrick

> Kip Kirkpatrick is co-founder, co-chairman and co-CEO of The Vistria Group, a Chicago-based private investment firm he launched with Marty Nesbitt in 2013. A former Northwestern basketball starter with degrees in history and business, he previously helped form One Equity Partners and Water Street and served as CEO of United Shore Financial Services. His university commitments include trusteeship, Kellogg advisory work and philanthropy with his wife, Sara.

- **Role:** Co-Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO at The Vistria Group
- **Organizations:** The Vistria Group, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, One Equity Partners, Water Street Healthcare Partners, United Shore Financial Services
- **From:** Nashville, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree in history, Northwestern University, MBA, Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management
- **Known for:** Three-year Northwestern men’s basketball starter and member of the 1994 NIT team., Nominated for the GTE Academic All-American team., Named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 in 2007.

## Career timeline

- **1990** — Graduated from Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky.
- **1994** — Completed his Northwestern history degree and played on its NIT basketball team.
- **1997** — Earned his MBA at Kellogg.
- **2001** — Helped create One Equity Partners.
- **Before 2011** — Co-founded Water Street; public biographies give inconsistent founding years, so an exact year is omitted.
- **2008** — Joined Northwestern University’s Board of Trustees.
- **2011-2013** — Served as CEO of United Shore Financial Services.
- **2013** — Co-founded The Vistria Group with Marty Nesbitt.
- **2022** — Gave the Northwestern School of Professional Studies convocation keynote.
- **2024** — Northwestern announced a $5 million lead gift from Kip and Sara for a new softball stadium.
- **2026** — Continued as Vistria co-CEO following flagship leadership appointments; Kip and Sara Kirkpatrick Stadium opened in September.

## Achievements

- Three-year Northwestern men’s basketball starter and member of the 1994 NIT team.
- Nominated for the GTE Academic All-American team.
- Named to Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 in 2007.
- United Shore hired more than 800 employees during his tenure as CEO.
- Co-founded Vistria in 2013; the firm reported more than $17 billion in AUM in March 2026.
- With Sara Kirkpatrick, provided a $5 million lead gift for Northwestern’s softball stadium.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Kip and Sara Kirkpatrick Stadium opened at Northwestern; the playing surface retains the name Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
- **2026-03** — Vistria announced Phil Alphonse and David Schuppan as co-presidents of its flagship funds and Nick Potter as head of strategic initiatives. Kirkpatrick and Marty Nesbitt remained co-CEOs. The firm reported more than $17 billion in AUM.

## Links

- Website: https://vistria.com/team/kip-kirkpatrick/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kip-kirkpatrick-309689147

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kip-kirkpatrick
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20