Carlyle promotes Australia buyout head to partner

Based in Sydney, Bluff joined Carlyle in 2008 from SABMiller where he was responsible for acquisitions in Europe and the Americas. He assumed responsibility for Australasia buyout activities from Simon Moore in 2016. Moore now runs Colinton Capital Partners, an Australia-focused growth capital firm.

Bluff led Carlyle’s investment in Australia-based iNova Pharmaceuticals in a joint deal with Pacific Equity Partners. He has also participated in transactions such as Healthscope, Qube Holdings and Coates Hire. Healthscope was re-listed in 2014, while Coates was exited to Seven Group Holdings last September.

Bluff is one of eight partner-level promotions globally. The private equity firm also elevated 19 professionals to managing director and 31 to director. Singapore-based investor executive Vikram Lokur is among the new managing directors.

Four members of Carlyle’s Asia buyout team are now directors: Hajime Kawafuji in Tokyo, Aaron Zhang in Shanghai, and Yi Yu and Justin Zhou, both of whom are based in Beijing. Aquila Chu, who covers secondary investments for AlpInvest Partners in Hong Kong, and Jason Hsu, part of the Asia real estate team in Shanghai, have also been promoted to director.

As of September 2017, Carlyle had $174 billion in assets under management globally across private equity, real assets, credit, and investment solutions. The firm is currently raising its fifth Asia buyout fund, reaching a first close of $4.5 billion in October of last year. Carlyle is also targeting $1 billion for its latest regional growth vehicle.  

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• Topics
• Australasia
• People
• Australia
• The Carlyle Group
• Asia
• Appointments