Relationship-driven, experienced partners to help achieve your goals.

Peter Chao

Managing Partner

Prior to joining Auriga, Peter was a Co-Founding Managing Principal at The Calgary Group, a private investment firm focused on making investments in the business services sector. Before co-founding The Calgary Group, Peter was a Senior Associate with Apax Partners. Prior to joining Apax, Peter began his career with investment roles at Code Hennessy & Simmons as well as in the Leveraged Capital Group of First Union Securities. Peter received a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce.

Selected Directorships:

  • Pioneer Offroad Holdings ULC

  • Contech Holdings Corporation (observer)

Other Activities:

  • Avid soccer and beach volleyball player and supporter of the Los Angeles Football Club

  • Active member of YPO Golden West (20-21 Chapter Chair)

  • Founding member of the US Soccer Los Angeles Development Council

Jim Cowart

Managing Partner

Prior to founding Auriga, Jim was a Founding General Partner of Capital Resource Partners. Before founding Capital Resource Partners, Jim was a Senior Vice President in Lehman Brothers, the Investment Banking Division of Shearson Lehman/American Express, and the President of Shearson Venture Capital. While there he originated the firm’s venture capital management efforts and founded Summit Ventures. Prior to joining Shearson Lehman Brothers, he was a Vice President in the Corporate Finance Group of Kidder, Peabody & Co. Jim received a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction from the Harvard Business School and a Bachelors in Computer Science from Pomona College.

Selected Directorships:

  • Pioneer Offroad Holdings ULC (Chairman)

  • Beers Enterprises, Inc. dba The Switch

  • Central Fiber LLC (Chairman)

  • Ivy Sports Medicine LLC

  • EAG, Inc. and its predecessors, including EAG Limited (AIM: EAG)

  • Auriga Medical Products GmbH and Geschaftsfuhrer of Clinical House GmbH, its wholly-owned subsidiary

  • BE Aerospace (NASDAQ: BEAV) (Chairman of the Audit and Compensation Committees)

  • Qualpro Corporation

  • Aurora Electronics (ASE: AUR) (Chairman and also served as CEO)

Other Activities:

  • Board of Trustees for Lake Forest Academy

  • Referee Instructor for American Youth Soccer Organization

  • Avid fan of the Anaheim Ducks and English Premier League football