Chicago-based Monroe Capital LLC has hired investment banker Warren Woo, an owner in the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators, as partner and as managing director of its recently raised $250 million investment fund. 

Woo will lead the Los Angeles office for Monroe Capital and be responsible for the West Coast.  Monroe, which also last week filed for an initial public offering, makes debt and equity investments in mid-size companies. Its portfolio companies include shoe company Rocket Dog, National Envelope and luxury denim designer Citizens of Humanity.

Most recently, Woo was a founding partner at Moelis & Co. Before that, he was vice chairman and a director at UBS investment bank. He also was the global head of hedge funds and leveraged finance at UBS.  Before UBS, he was with Donaldson Lufkin and Jenrette and Drexel Burnham Lambert in various senior management investment banking roles.  He also owns a stake in the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators.

byerak@tribune.com