Chris Varelas

Chris Varelas is a co-founding partner and managing partner of Riverwood Capital, a private equity firm specializing in scaling high-growth technology and technology-related companies globally. Before founding Riverwood Capital, Varelas held senior leadership roles at Salomon Brothers and Citigroup, including global head of technology, media and telecom investment banking, head of Citi’s national investment bank, and membership on Citi’s global operating committee. He played a role in mergers and acquisitions that shaped the technology sector, such as the Compaq/HP and Peoplesoft/Oracle transactions, and was recognized by the New York Times as one of the 100 most important deal makers and by Dealmaker Magazine as a top rainmaker in technology.

Varelas’s expertise extends beyond investment banking into thought leadership and public speaking. He is the author of "How Money Became Dangerous," an account of the complexities of modern finance, and is a frequent speaker at industry events, including the Aspen Ideas Festival. As a senior moderator and co-founder of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship at the Aspen Institute, he focuses on cultivating leadership in the financial services industry. Varelas also serves on the boards of organizations including Nextdoor as lead director, Insider.com, and advisory boards for Braidwell, Elemental Cognition, and the RAND Corporation’s Center for Global Risk and Security.

Throughout his career, Varelas has demonstrated a commitment to innovation, governance, and mentorship within the finance and technology sectors. His achievements include honors such as the Occidental SEAL Award for Professional Achievement. Varelas’s public speaking engagements and board roles highlight his expertise on the intersection of technology, finance, and leadership.