General Atlantic

In 1996, when Claude Bébéar, chairman of AXA, asked Dominique Senequier to create a private equity arm for the insurer, a remarkable journey began. Bébéar promised to invest one franc for every two she raised from outside investors, a challenge that ignited a fierce determination in the young company to win clients through exceptional service and outstanding investment performance. Starting with just a $100m French Buyout fund and two external clients, the company steadily expanded into new asset classes and built a powerful international network across Europe, North America, and Asia. The pivotal moment arrived in 2013, when Dominique Senequier led an employee buyout of AXA Private Equity, creating Ardian – an independent private investment firm where approximately 80% of employees became owners. This independence unlocked a new chapter of accelerated growth, transforming the company into a global diversified private markets firm managing $196bn in assets. From those humble beginnings, Ardian has evolved into a world-leading organization with over 1,000 employees across 20 offices worldwide, mastering change to create lasting value for all stakeholders.

Orion Group is a private equity backed holding company focused on growing field services businesses across HVACR, facilities maintenance, and landscaping. Since its inception in 2019, Orion has built a national platform by partnering with leading family- and founder-owned service providers, investing in their people, cultures, and customer relationships, and providing the capital and operational support needed to scale. Backed by Alpine Investors, Orion operates with a permanent ownership model designed to create enduring value for owners, teams, and clients. The organization emphasizes long term thinking, a decentralized operating approach, and a relentless commitment to safety, quality, and service excellence. Today the Orion network comprises thousands of team members across multiple industries, with around 50 investments completed to date. Orion focuses on developing its people through structured career paths, leadership programs, and internal advancement opportunities, so high performers can rise to positions of influence across the network. The company prioritizes partnerships and long term growth over exits, aiming to retain teams, protect cultures, and maintain strong relationships with customers. By combining deep market expertise with a scalable platform and a shared set of values, Orion seeks to improve service delivery, expand geographic reach, and create durable, value-generating careers for the teams powering its growth.