VSS Capital Partners appointed Otilia Ciotau as Managing Director, AI and Value Creation, expanding the private investment firm’s approach to artificial intelligence across its investment process and portfolio. Ciotau brings more than two decades of experience across financial services, strategic development, finance, risk management, technology, and organizational transformation.
Before joining VSS, she served as Senior Advisor to the Managing Director and CFO of The World Bank Group.
In that role, she advised across a finance organization responsible for more than $800 billion in assets.
Earlier in her career, Ciotau held chief economist and director-level roles spanning business development, capital markets, research, and risk management.
She has also built multidisciplinary teams, established new functions, redesigned operating models, and led transformation initiatives.
At VSS, Ciotau will work across the investment lifecycle.
Her responsibilities will include connecting investment thesis development and due diligence with value creation initiatives at portfolio companies and eventual exit planning.
VSS said Ciotau has already developed an AI framework that the firm applied across transactions during 2026.
The framework evaluates how artificial intelligence could affect growth, margins, competitive positioning, exit values, and new business opportunities.
VSS focuses on technology-enabled lower middle-market companies across healthcare, education, and business services.
Ciotau holds degrees in economics and finance as well as mathematics and computer science and has a master’s degree in finance and banking.
She is also a CFA and CAIA charterholder.
KEY QUOTES:
“Otilia has already strengthened how we evaluate AI risks and opportunities in our investment process. She developed a framework that we applied across our deals this year, examining how AI could affect growth, margins, competitive position and exit value, as well as where it could create new opportunities.”
Jeffrey Stevenson, Managing Partner of VSS Capital Partners
“I’m excited to continue working with our portfolio companies to identify and pursue opportunities for growth.”
Otilia Ciotau, Managing Director, AI and Value Creation at VSS Capital Partners
