Vista Equity Partners Names Lauren Dillard as New CFO: What This Means for the $92B Enterprise Software Giant

Lauren Dillard is stepping into one of the most influential roles in enterprise software investing. Vista Equity Partners officially appointed her as Chief Financial Officer and Senior Managing Director, effective April 11, marking a significant leadership transition at the $92 billion AUM investment powerhouse.

The Leadership Shift

Dillard replaces John Warnken-Brill, who’s retiring after more than 15 years steering Vista’s financial operations. The outgoing CFO will remain involved during the transition to ensure continuity—a typical move for major leadership changes in firms of Vista’s scale. This succession represents more than just a personnel shift; it signals Vista’s readiness to accelerate growth under fresh strategic direction.

Who Is Lauren Dillard?

Dillard brings over 20 years of experience bridging financial services and technology sectors. Most recently, she held the role of Executive Vice President of Investment Intelligence at Nasdaq, where she transformed a division into a billion-dollar revenue generator. Under her watch, the Investment Intelligence unit achieved double-digit growth and surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue during 2021, serving a diverse client base including global asset managers, asset owners, and fintechs.

Before Nasdaq, Dillard spent 17 years at The Carlyle Group as a Partner and Head of Investment Solutions, overseeing more than $40 billion in assets and 200 professionals across six countries. She also held membership on Carlyle’s Management Committee, giving her direct exposure to capital allocation and M&A strategy at an elite level. Her earlier career included time in Arthur Andersen’s tax practice, rounding out her financial acumen.

What This Means for Vista

Vista’s President and Chief Operating Officer David A. Breach highlighted the strategic rationale: “Lauren’s operational expertise across technology and finance will accelerate Vista’s growth trajectory.” The timing aligns with Vista’s momentum—the firm deployed over $11.9 billion across more than 100 transactions in 2021 and returned $7.4 billion to investors across its private equity and permanent capital strategies.

The appointment also follows several landmark exits: Vista portfolio companies including IAS, PowerSchool, Cvent, and Vivid Seats went public, while Ping Identity and Jamf completed public equity offerings. Additionally, Vista Credit Partners closed its third fund at $2.3 billion, adding over 100 new investors.

Beyond Finance

Dillard is recognized as an advocate for inclusive capital and women’s advancement in tech and finance. She’s been an executive sponsor for employee resource groups at both Nasdaq and Carlyle and remains active with organizations like PE WIN and Extraordinary Women on Boards. She currently serves on the board of SL Green Realty Inc. and holds a degree in accounting from the University of Richmond.

For Vista, Dillard’s appointment represents the firm’s bet that sophisticated capital markets expertise, combined with deep technology sector knowledge, will drive the next phase of growth in enterprise software investing.