Victory Park promotes five investment professionals

Victory Park Capital, the Chicago-headquartered mid-market lender, has promoted five investment professionals in its head office, the firm said in a statement.

Charles Asfour and Tom Affolter have both been promoted to partner. Asfour will continue to be responsible for originating, executing and managing private debt and equity investments in mid-market companies in a variety of industries, though he has a particular focus on the transportation and retail sectors. Asfour joined VPC in 2010.

Affolter manages VPC’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) fund. In this role, he is responsible for sourcing, underwriting, executing and managing investments in lower mid-market companies, including those in the specialty finance sector. He has been with the firm since 2009.

Meanwhile, Robert Goldstein and Tom Welch have been named principals. Goldstein is mainly involved in developing and implementing operational and strategic initiatives at VPC’s portfolio companies and working with management teams on growth ideas. He will continue to originate investment opportunities for the firm. Goldstein joined Victory Park four years ago.

Welch is involved in sourcing, underwriting, and managing private debt and equity investments in the specialty finance and industrial sectors. He leads VPC’s drive to provide capital to the specialty finance sector. He came on board in 2009.

Geoff Mikelsons was also promoted to vice president. He is involved in the origination, fundamental analysis, transaction execution and management of investments in the consumer and retail sectors. Mikelsons joined Victory Park in 2012.

Victory Park is an independent alternative investment manager focused on mid-market companies across a range of industries. The firm was founded in 2007 and has additional offices in Boston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.