KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced it is joining with Ron Voigt, formerly an executive at Danaher Corporation, to work together to identify and acquire mid-market businesses in the industrials sector.

Together with KKR, Mr. Voigt will focus on acquiring manufacturing businesses generating roughly $25 to $50 million of EBITDA. Once a company has been acquired, they will aim to support the business in achieving breakthrough performance and growth while also implementing an innovative employee engagement model utilized in KKR’s industrials transactions in recent years.

Mr. Voigt previously served as the President of X-Rite Pantone, an operating subsidiary of Danaher Corporation. While at X-Rite, he led a multi-year transformation utilizing lean principals which significantly improved operating performance across sales, manufacturing, supply chain, product development, marketing, and corporate functions. Mr. Voigt joined Danaher in 2009 and served in a number of executive level roles at both Kollmorgen and Tektronix before being tapped to lead X-Rite Pantone in 2013. Earlier in his career, he held positions of increasing responsibility at Delphi Automotive PLC.

“I am thrilled to partner with KKR’s Industrials team to execute this strategy. They have an exceptional track record of creating value and a game-changing approach to employee engagement,” said Mr. Voigt. “Working together, I’m confident in our ability to find and acquire a top-notch manufacturing business where we can help build long-term value.”

Over the last six years, KKR’s Industrials team has focused on employee engagement as a key driver in building stronger companies. The centerpiece of the strategy has been to make all employees owners in the business by granting them the opportunity to participate in the equity return directly alongside KKR. Beyond sharing ownership, KKR also supports employee engagement by investing in training across multiple functional areas, driving improvements in worker safety and by supporting the company’s involvement in the community.

“The core of our philosophy is that companies can achieve incredible results when all employees are given the opportunity to think, act, and participate as owners in the business,” said Pete Stavros, Member of KKR and Head of KKR’s Industrials investment team. “We see tremendous potential to add-value to middle market industrial businesses with our approach, and the chance to team up with a talented executive like Ron is a wonderful opportunity. Ron is a proven leader who has a track record that speaks for itself.”