Berkshire Partners Announces the Appointment of Richard Lichtenstein as Operating Partner, Head of Data Science and AI

Appointment underscores Berkshire’s continued investment in building a practical, high-impact AI function across the firm and its portfolio

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Berkshire Partners (“Berkshire”), a Boston-based private equity firm focused on the middle market, today announced that Richard Lichtenstein has joined as Operating Partner, Head of Data Science and AI, reflecting the firm’s continued investment in data science and artificial intelligence to enhance insight, efficiency and performance across Berkshire and its portfolio.

In a newly created role, Mr. Lichtenstein will lead Berkshire’s data science, advanced analytics, and generative AI efforts, working closely with investment teams and the Portfolio Support Group (PSG) to scale the firm’s AI capabilities internally and across the portfolio, applying AI to meaningfully transform portfolio company products, services, and value propositions.

As part of its continued investment in AI, Berkshire has also promoted Limor Gultchin from Vice President of AI/ML to Director, Data Science and AI. In this role, Ms. Gultchin will continue to play a critical leadership role in building and operationalizing Berkshire’s AI and machine learning capabilities, partnering with Mr. Lichtenstein to scale the firm’s capabilities, internally and at the portfolio.

Mr. Lichtenstein joins Berkshire from Bain & Company, where he served as a Senior Expert Partner and Chief Data Officer for Private Equity, supporting teams in leveraging advanced analytics and generative AI across private equity due diligence and portfolio work.

“Richard’s appointment and Limor’s promotion reflect the momentum we’ve built at Berkshire as we continue to integrate advanced analytics and AI across the investment lifecycle and internally,” said Marni Payne, Managing Director at Berkshire Partners. “AI enablement underpins our long-term approach to value creation, complementing our investment principles by helping scale operations, unlock insight, and support business transformation across a portfolio.”

“I’m thrilled to join Berkshire Partners at a pivotal moment for the firm and for AI more broadly,” said Mr. Lichtenstein. “Berkshire has built a strong, embedded data science foundation, and I look forward to building on that momentum as AI increasingly shapes how value is created across businesses and in our future investment decisions.”

AI enablement plays a central role in the firm’s long-term approach to value creation, helping scale operations, unlock insight, and support business transformation. Berkshire’s approach to AI, internally and in the portfolio, is grounded in three pillars of enablement: horizontal, functional, and strategic. Horizontally, the focus is on building the foundation for broad AI adoption across the organization and portfolio. Functionally, AI is deployed with a goal of driving efficiency and automation in core business processes. Strategically, Berkshire looks to partner with portfolio companies to apply AI in ways that enhance products, services, and business models strengthening long-term competitive differentiation.

As Berkshire continues to invest in data science and artificial intelligence, the firm remains focused on translating emerging technologies into practical tools that enhance insight, efficiency, and growth. Through close partnership with management teams, Berkshire seeks to apply AI in ways that strengthen operational performance, support innovation, and drive durable value creation across its portfolio.

About Berkshire Partners

Berkshire Partners is a 100% employee-owned, multi-sector specialist investor in private and public equity, with a focus on U.S.-based, middle-market companies. The firm's private equity team invests in well-positioned, growing companies across services, healthcare, industrials, and technology. Berkshire is currently investing from its Fund XI, which held its final closing in 2024 with approximately $7.8 billion in commitments. Since inception, Berkshire Partners has made more than 150 private equity investments and has a strong history of collaborating with management teams to grow the companies in which it invests. The firm's public equity group, Stockbridge, founded in 2007, manages a concentrated portfolio seeking attractive long-term investments. For additional information, visit www.berkshirepartners.com.