On Oct. 10, MiddleGround Capital, a private equity firm that makes control investments in lower middle market industrial B2B and specialty distribution companies in North America and Europe, announced Christopher Speight as a Partner.

Speight will be based in the firm’s Lexington, Kentucky headquarters and initially will assume responsibility for Fund Accounting and Management Company Accounting functions. Previously these departments reported to MiddleGround’s Managing Partner John Stewart.

Previously, Speight served as Chief Financial Officer of Alltech, a global animal nutrition company with 6,000 employees and operations in 85 countries. During his time at Alltech, he headed the global corporate finance, treasury management and M&A functions, built out the company’s finance organization and enhanced its access to capital markets, company officials said in a news release.

Throughout his career, Speight has advised on dozens of mergers and acquisitions and capital-raising transactions. In addition to his primary work in agribusiness, he has also managed numerous transactions in the broader food and beverage and consumer spaces. Speight brings a collective 15 years of investment banking experience having advised clients on M&A, capital structure and corporate finance at leading banks.