Colton Messer

Principal

Background
Colton joined Cove Hill in 2026, working alongside management teams and investment professionals to drive value creation across the portfolio.
Prior to joining Cove Hill, Colton was Vice President in the portfolio operations group at Vista Equity Partners, where he partnered with management teams to accelerate their growth and AI transformation. Before Vista, Colton worked at Anaplan, where he led GTM analytics and helped shape Anaplan’s GTM strategy. His tenure spanned Anaplan’s time as a public company through its eventual $10.4B take-private.
Before Anaplan, Colton was a management consultant for Accenture Strategy, working with clients across chemicals, energy, utilities, and technology sectors. Colton began his career working in Foreign Affairs for the U.S. Air Force.
Get to Know Colton
What inspired you to pursue a career in private equity?
I was initially drawn to how quickly private equity-backed companies could move and transform their businesses. Today, what energizes me is helping build strong management teams and empowering them to harness AI to grow their businesses.
What is your favorite thing to cook to impress guests?
My go-to dish is parmigiana di melanzane (eggplant parmesan). This includes making my own tomato sauce, which takes it up a notch. It’s a big hit among my young daughters, which is most important.
What is the best vacation you've ever taken?
During business school, I traveled through Japan and Indonesia for two weeks with some of my closest friends - going from the quiet of Mount Fuji to the black sand beaches of Bali in the same week. It was the perfect blend of food, adventure, and relaxation.

Education

Colton earned a B.A. in International Politics from George Mason University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He received an M.B.A. from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.