Equity Risk Partners-Texas (ERP-Texas), a Dallas-based insurance brokerage, has appointment of Michael Viracola as director of business development.

Viracola will be responsible for generating and managing business relationships in Texas and the Southwest.

ERP-Texas was recently established as a joint venture between insurance brokers Equity Risk Partners (ERP) and Lipscomb & Cathey (L&C) that focuses on servicing the insurance and risk management needs of private equity firms in Texas and the Southwest.

As a dedicated producer, Viracola will focus on expanding ERP’s private equity focus into Texas, and building on L&C’s presence with businesses in Texas and the Southwest.

Viracola has over 20 years of experience in institutional investment services, and has held various senior-level positions focusing on client service and global business development within this sector.

He will join ERP-Texas from Pepperwood Partners, where he was a managing partner focused on developing institutional funding relationships with pension funds, private equity funds, family offices and high-net-worth individuals.

ERP founder and CEO Michael Marcon said as ERP-Texas positions itself to generate private equity deal flow throughout Texas and the Southwest, Viracola’s unique skill set will allow the company to provide enhanced products and services to clients as well as increase footprint in this region.