Kris Salovaara joined Watch Hill Partners as a Founding Partner in October 2004. He began his investment banking career with Goldman Sachs in 1986. During his ten-year tenure at Goldman, Mr. Salovaara worked with middle-market growth companies, financial institutions and transportation companies on a broad range of corporate finance and M&A transactions. In 1997, he was recruited by a former colleague to Bear Stearns' Media Investment Banking Group as a Managing Director. In that group, Mr. Salovaara specialized in the Satellite Pay TV/Radio sector as well as in Direct Marketing Services firms. He also worked with several companies in the Education, Publishing and Broadcast industries. In 1999, Mr. Salovaara transitioned into Bear Stearns' Telecom Group, where he assumed responsibility for the firm's investment banking activities involving Satellite Services companies. Prior to joining Watch Hill Partners, Mr. Salovaara was associated with Helander Partners, a distressed debt fund he established after his departure from Bear Stearns in 2002.

Mr. Salovaara received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University and his M.B.A. from the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia. Mr. Salovaara was a financial futures trader on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange during the period between his undergraduate and graduate degrees. He is active in his church, and has served as chair of its $40 million endowment investment committee. In addition, Mr. Salovaara's interests include politics and marathon running (including two New York City marathons).