February 18th, 2026
CHARLOTTE, NC, February 18, 2026 — Capitala Group (“Capitala”), a leading private markets investment firm providing capital solutions to lower middle-market companies is proud to announce the promotions of Josh Schools and Kiana Fox to Senior Associate, and Annie Cooper to Vice President.
Since joining the firm in 2021 and 2023 respectively, Josh Schools and Kiana Fox have each demonstrated strong performance, analytical rigor, and a commitment to Capitala’s investment strategy. In their new roles as Senior Associates, both will take on expanded responsibilities across the investment process, including deal sourcing, underwriting, execution, and portfolio management. Their promotions reflect their meaningful contributions to the firm’s deal activity and their continued growth as key members of the investment team.
“Josh and Kiana have consistently shown exceptional dedication and professionalism in their work,” said Steve Arnall, COO at Capitala Group. “Their promotions are well deserved and reflect the impact they have made on our investment platform and the value they bring to our team and partners.”
Capitala also announced the promotion of Annie Cooper to Vice President, Business Development. Since joining the firm, Annie has played an integral role in expanding Capitala’s banking relationships. In her new position, she will continue to expand the firm’s business development initiatives, focusing on sourcing new investment opportunities and strengthening strategic partnerships.
About Capitala Group
Capitala Group is a leading private markets investment firm that has been investing private credit and private equity capital into lower middle-market businesses throughout North America for over twenty-five years. Since our inception in 1998, Capitala has invested and managed over $3.2 billion[1], utilizing our flexible capital mandate to deliver creative financing solutions. We aim to partner with strong management teams to create value and support growth through strategic partnerships, operational expertise, and a shared vision for success.
Capitala's ecosystem includes 93 banks on its platform since inception and benefits from a senior leadership team with a combined 195 years of experience. To date, we have invested in 35 of the 50 states, further demonstrating our broad reach and commitment to supporting businesses nationwide. For more information, visit www.CapitalaGroup.com.
[1] Includes invested capital since inception, callable capital to commingled funds and available credit facilities, and discretionary and non-discretionary managed accounts.
Back
