A consortium of investors, spearheaded by the relatively unknown private equity figure William Chisholm, has drawn considerable attention by announcing a groundbreaking agreement to acquire the Boston Celtics. The agreed deal, with an estimated value of an astounding $6.1 billion, sets a record for the most expensive purchase of an American professional sports team, pending approval from the NBA’s board of governors, expected this summer.
William Chisholm, aged 56, emerges at the forefront of this significant transaction. Known for maintaining a low profile, Chisholm has deep-rooted ties to Boston as a native and an ardent Celtics enthusiast. In his statement following the announcement of the deal, Chisholm emphasized his lifelong fandom for the Celtics, highlighting the team’s unique significance to Boston compared to any other city across the United States.
Reflecting on his academic background, Chisholm’s education was also rooted in the Northeast. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. Furthering his studies, he obtained an MBA in strategic management from The Wharton School in Philadelphia in 1996.
Professionally, Chisholm’s financial success stems from his ventures in tech investing. He co-founded Symphony Technology Group (STG) in 2002, located in Menlo Park, California. STG specializes in investing in companies focused on data, software, and analytics. Under his leadership as managing partner and chief investment officer, STG orchestrated notable acquisitions including combining McAfee Enterprise and FireEye to launch the cybersecurity company Trellix in 2022, and acquiring Momentive, the parent company of Survey Monkey.
As of 2023, Symphony Technology Group has raised close to $10 billion for its private equity funds and executed over a hundred investments. That same year, the firm closed its seventh and largest fund, raising a substantial $4.2 billion.
Prior to his accomplishments with STG, Chisholm gathered experience at the consulting firm Bain & Co. and the investment bank PaineWebber. He also co-founded a risk consulting firm called The Valent Group.
On the personal front, Chisholm is married to Kimberly, and together they have three children. Although STG operates from the Bay Area, Chisholm reportedly owns a home in Nantucket and plans to acquire a residence in Boston.