A leading private equity firm focused on growth investments in the lower-middle-market energy, industrial, and specialty chemicals sectors, Black Bay Partners is excited to announce significant updates to its leadership team. N. John Lancaster, Jr. has joined the firm as a Partner, while Matt Schovee and Sam Scofield have been promoted to Partner and Principal, respectively.
“We are proud to announce Matt’s promotion to Partner and Sam’s promotion to Principal. Since Black Bay’s inception in 2016, Matt has been instrumental in our success, and Sam, who joined us as an Associate in 2019, has greatly contributed to our growth,” said Michael LeBourgeois, Managing Partner of Black Bay. “Their efforts have helped us expand our portfolio and drive new investment opportunities.”
LeBourgeois also welcomed John Lancaster to the firm. “John brings invaluable investment expertise, a strong network, and an excellent reputation. Having advised Black Bay from its early days and partnered with us on multiple co-investments, he shares our vision of building industry-leading companies and generating consistent, positive returns for our investors.”
Lancaster joins Black Bay from Oyster Creek, LLC, the private investment firm he founded in 2020, where he managed growth investments across energy and industrial sectors. Prior to that, he spent 20 years at Riverstone Holdings, LLC, where he executed numerous private equity transactions across the energy value chain, with a strong focus on manufactured equipment, products, and services.
“I’m thrilled to join Black Bay at an exciting time for the firm and the broader energy and specialty chemicals markets,” Lancaster said. “I have known Michael since early in our careers and have worked with the Black Bay team since the firm’s start. Their investment strategy, which supports growth-oriented entrepreneurs offering sustainable, high-quality solutions to the energy and industrial sectors, aligns with my values. I look forward to working with a team deeply committed to a partnership-driven culture, essential for enduring investment success.”
