Craig Group Hires Ryan Williams as Director of Business Development, Bringing 15+ Years of Private Markets Experience
HOUSTON—Craig Group today announced the addition of Ryan Williams as Director, Business Development, expanding the firm’s relationships across the private equity and venture capital ecosystem. In his role, Williams will partner with PE/VC firms and their portfolio companies to identify growth opportunities, make strategic connections, and bring Craig Group’s operator-led go-to-market (GTM) programs to middle-market, PE-backed companies.
Williams has spent his career in sales and business development leadership across private equity, venture capital, institutional investing, enterprise software, and technology. His network spans investment professionals, operating partners, portfolio-company executives, and C-suite decision-makers, and his relationship-first approach has consistently turned those connections into measurable business outcomes.
“Ryan understands that in private equity, growth starts with trust,” said Summer Craig, CEO of Craig Group. “He has spent his career building lasting relationships with sponsors and portfolio leadership, and he knows how to connect the right partners at the right time. That approach aligns with how we support our clients, and helps more sponsors put our operator-led GTM programs to work across their portfolios.
Most recently, Williams served as Director of Private Equity/Venture Capital at Consero Global, where he worked closely with PE/VC firms and their portfolio companies on relationship development, deal sourcing, and strategic introductions. He previously led a Private Markets practice and managed a team of nine Account Executives, driving the team to exceed its annual target by 160% while increasing average deal size by 22%. Under his leadership, the team generated more than $6 million in net-new ARR and achieved 132% of quota, with his personal attainment reaching 121%.
Williams’ career highlights include securing Cascade Investments, the largest single-family office in the United States, and developing a partnership with a Managing Partner at Madison Dearborn Partners that resulted in a solution implemented across the firm’s portfolio of over 40 companies. Earlier, he was a seven-time consecutive President’s Club recipient, managed a $4 million book of business, and relocated from Chicago to Mexico City to launch his company’s Latin American division.
“Lasting growth comes from relationships built on trust, not transactions,” said Williams. “Craig Group’s operators run the work they scope, and that’s a promise I’m proud to bring to the sponsors and executives I’ve worked alongside for years. I’m excited to help create new opportunities for the firm and connect our clients with the growth partner they need.”
Williams holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Jackson State University.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tricia Eaton – tricia@craigmarketinggroup.com
About Craig Group
Craig Group is an operator-led go-to-market strategy and execution partner for private equity and PE-backed lower middle market portfolio companies. We are technology-enabled and AI-supported, built to accelerate organic growth within the realities of a hold period. We work with management teams and operating partners to identify the highest-value segments, clarify ICP and messaging, and build a repeatable revenue engine across marketing, sales, and customer expansion, then implement the plan so results show up in pipeline quality, win rate, deal size, recurring revenue, profitability, and EBITDA.
