Experienced, Proven, Connected

With access to the leading minds in the energy and power transition, TEP is assembling a team of highly experienced and dedicated professionals, all with longstanding industry relationships. Headed by Pat Eilers, our leadership represents 20 years of expertise.

Current Boards:
Bedrock
Previous Boards:
NextDecade
First Wind
Magellan
US Powergen

PAT EILERS

FOUNDER AND MANAGING PARTNER

Before founding Transition Equity Partners, LLC, Pat was a Managing Director at BlackRock Infrastructure. There he served on the Investment Committees for the Global Renewable Power and Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Funds. He also chaired Blackrock’s Energy & Power Private Equity Fund. Prior to Blackrock, Pat led Madison Dearborn Partners into the sustainable energy sector, overseeing the firm’s energy, power, and chemicals practices for a decade.

In addition to Bachelor of Science degrees in both Biology and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, Pat also earned a Masters of Management from the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. As an athlete, Pat played on Notre Dame’s 1988 National Championship team before spending six seasons in the NFL with Minnesota, Washington, and Chicago. Pat lives in Chicago with his wife and four children.

Michael Allison

PARTNER

Prior to joining Transition Equity Partners, Michael was a Senior Managing Director at Stonepeak. There he co-led the $2.8bn Global Renewable Fund as well as sitting on the investment committee for the firm’s flagship infrastructure funds. Before joining Stonepeak, Michael headed the renewable energy investing team within Macquarie Capital based in New York.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. Michael moved to the US from Australia in 2000 and lives in Rye, New York with his wife and two children.

Craig Payne

PARTNER, COO

Prior to joining Transition Equity Partners, Craig was Director of Private investments at Olympus Ventures (2020-2022), a single family office, where he was responsible for sourcing and underwriting private equity co-investments. Prior to Olympus, Craig was a Managing Director (2014-2019) and Director (2007-2014) at BlackRock Private Equity Partners, including a seat on the Investment Committee (2017-2019). At BlackRock, he led teams that sourced, diligenced, underwrote, and managed private equity co-investments and fund commitments, including ~$800MM across ~25 energy and energy-related co-investments. Prior to BlackRock, Craig was a Vice President (2005-06) and Assistant Vice President (2002-05) at GE Equity, where he led teams that sourced, diligenced, underwrote, and managed private equity co-investments and fund commitments. His other previous experience included M&A and leveraged finance at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (1999-2001), and commercial banking at Bank of America (1997-99). 

Craig is a member of the External Investment Advisory Board for BlackRock Infrastructure Solutions (infrastructure private equity co-investment and fund investment group), a former Investment Committee Member for the Diocese of Raleigh pension fund and endowment, and a current Student Mentor at the Big Shoulders Fund of Chicago. 

Craig earned a BA (Great Distinction) in Economics and Political Science from McGill University in 1997, and an MBA (Honors, Beta Gamma Sigma) from the University of Chicago Graduate School of business in 2006. Craig and his wife, Meghan, have two children and live in Chicago, IL.

James Onwualu

ASSOCIATE

James is an Associate at Transition Equity Partners, focused on executing buyout and growth equity investments across TEP’s core sectors. Prior to joining TEP in 2021, James played in the National Football League as an outside linebacker. While in the NFL, James Co-Founded Afia Capital, a fund targeting early-growth stage companies that benefited from the LP consortiums of professional athletes that Afia arranged.

James earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance at the University of Notre Dame.

JOHN SEXTON

VICE PRESIDENT

John is a Vice President at Transition Equity Partners, focused on executing buyout and growth equity investments across TEP’s core sectors. Prior to joining TEP in 2021, John was an Associate within Marathon Capital’s Investment Banking Group, facilitating M&A transactions and tax equity financings in the renewables, conventional power, carbon capture and energy services/technology sectors.

John earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, while minoring in Sustainability at the University of Notre Dame.

KEY AFFILIATIONS