Banyan Capital Partners promotes Simon Gélinas to Managing Director and Head of Investments (opens in a new tab)
Gélinas, at Banyan since 2015, takes over day-to-day running of deals and the portfolio while Jeff Wigle keeps strategic oversight.
Permanent-Capital Investor
Toronto mid-market private equity firm within the Connor, Clark & Lunn group, investing permanent capital in founder- and family-owned North American businesses.
Banyan Capital Partners is a Toronto private equity firm, founded in 1998 and run by its current management since 2008, that is an affiliate of Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group. It makes long-term control investments in middle-market companies across North America with EBITDA of at least $5 million, often in succession deals for founder- or family-owned businesses, and invests through an evergreen vehicle (Banyan Committed Capital LP) rather than a closed-end fund. Its current portfolio of eight companies is mostly Canadian, spanning distribution, manufacturing, specialty retail and services. For students, it is a small single-office team (analysts through partners on the official team page) where analysts work alongside partners who sit on portfolio boards; it posts no Banyan-specific student program, though the CC&L group runs a year-round co-op internship program across its affiliates.
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Equity investments in North American middle-market private and public companies with EBITDA of at least $5 million, held through permanent capital so there is no fixed exit horizon; transaction types include founder and family succession, management buyouts, growth equity, carve-outs, take-privates and restructurings.
Partners sit on portfolio boards and back buy-and-build programs, such as Oakcreek Golf & Turf's 2025 purchase of L.L. Johnson and Midwest Turf and Purity Life's 2025 acquisitions of three natural-products distributors.
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Programs
Co-op · Canada
Connor, Clark & Lunn Financial Group runs a year-round internship program for current university students together with its affiliates, on three co-op terms. The page says most affiliates take interns but does not name Banyan, so treat a Banyan placement as possible rather than confirmed; the team page shows Banyan hires at the Analyst level, and no Banyan-specific posting was found.
Managing Director & Partner, Head of Investments
Investment team
Joined Banyan in 2015 and was named Head of Investments in July 2026, taking day-to-day charge of the pipeline, deal selection and execution, and portfolio management; sits on the Rack Attack, Second Nature Designs and Oakcreek boards. Earlier was CFO of Mechtronix and a senior executive at TRU Simulation & Training after its acquisition, and a Vice President at Richardson Capital. McGill BCom, UBC MBA and CFA charterholder.
Managing Partner
Investment team
Joined Banyan in 2008 and, as Managing Partner, oversees the firm's investment philosophy, origination and portfolio construction; sits on the Purity Life and Newcrete boards. Previously a Vice President at Richardson Capital and in mid-market advisory at Orenda Corporate Finance. Western economics graduate, Chartered Accountant and CFA charterholder.
Managing Director & Partner
Investment team
Joined Banyan in 2019 and originates, evaluates and executes deals while overseeing several portfolio companies, including MIP, Stagevision and Innovative Surface Solutions. Previously a Partner at Hawthorn Equity Partners (formerly Genuity Capital Partners), and earlier at Teachers' Private Capital and Mercer Management Consulting. Queen's economics graduate with a Harvard MBA.
Director & Partner
Investment team
Joined Banyan in 2017 and sits on the Newcrete, Innovative Surface Solutions and Second Nature Designs boards. Came from KPMG Deal Advisory, where he advised strategic buyers, pension funds and private equity firms on acquisitions and divestitures, after starting in KPMG's audit practice. Laurier BBA and CPA, CA.
Director & Partner
Investment team
Joined Banyan in 2022, was promoted to Director in 2025 and sits on the Purity Life and Stagevision boards. Previously an Associate Director at OMERS Private Equity working on buyouts, after time at OMERS Infrastructure and in TD Securities' M&A group. Schulich BBA and CFA charterholder.
Professional information only, drawn from official biographies and published reporting. BSO never lists private contact details.
Jul 9, 2026
Simon GélinasPromotion
Managing Director & Partner, Head of Investments
Banyan Capital Partners → Banyan Capital Partners
Named Head of Investments with day-to-day leadership of the investment function; Jeff Wigle stays Managing Partner with strategic oversight (date is the announcement date).
2025
Marat AltinbaevPromotion
Director
Banyan Capital Partners → Banyan Capital Partners
Promotion to Director reported in Banyan's 2025 year in review, alongside Alex Gelmych's promotion to Senior Analyst and James Nash joining as Analyst; exact date not given.
Sep 1, 2025
Horizon Distributors, PSC Natural Foods and Ontario Natural Food Company
Owner of acquirer · Natural health and grocery distribution
Buyer Purity Life (Banyan portfolio company)
Purity Life, a Banyan holding since 2012, bought three Canadian natural-products distributors in September 2025 (month only; reported in the firm's 2025 year in review).
May 23, 2025
L.L. Johnson Distributing Company and Midwest Turf & Irrigation (assets of Pattlen Enterprises)
Majority owner of acquirer · Golf and turf equipment distribution
Buyer Oakcreek Golf & Turf LP (Banyan portfolio company) · Seller Pattlen Enterprises, Inc.
Add-on acquisition extending Calgary-based Oakcreek into Denver and Omaha as a distributor of Toro commercial turf equipment; Banyan is Oakcreek's majority owner alongside management.
Jun 3, 2024
Stagevision Inc.
Acquirer · Audiovisual and event production services
Buyer Banyan Capital Partners
Platform investment in Mississauga-based Stagevision, a provider of AV production and event management for live, virtual and hybrid events in Canada and the US; CEO Scott Tomlinson and management took a minority stake. Third platform deal from Banyan Committed Capital LP.
Gélinas, at Banyan since 2015, takes over day-to-day running of deals and the portfolio while Jeff Wigle keeps strategic oversight.
Highlights add-ons at Oakcreek and Purity Life, Marat Altinbaev's promotion to Director, and new analyst-level hiring and promotions.
Portfolio company Oakcreek Golf & Turf acquires L.L. Johnson (Denver) and Midwest Turf (Omaha).
Banyan acquires a Mississauga AV and event production company, partnering with its CEO and management.
Second platform from the evergreen vehicle: a Hamilton maker of dried-floral home décor and gifting products.
Banyan Committed Capital LP, set up in December 2021, closes a $216 million first tranche and makes its first investment, in Innovative Surface Solutions.
Banyan Capital Partners is established; its current management team has run it since 2008.
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