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Talent acquisition the biggest challenge for Asia PE – AVCJ Forum
Finding talented personnel to source and execute investments remains the biggest challenge facing Asia’s private equity industry, GPs told the AVCJ Forum.
Asia PE salaries rise as war for talent intensifies - survey
Private equity compensation rose across the board in Asia Pacific last year – a trend that is seen to reflect rising competition for talent as the number of firms and volume of capital in the region continues to grow.
Korea's NPS taps BNK Financial head for CIO role
Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) has appointed Hyo-Joon Ahn as its new CIO after struggling for more than a year to find a permanent occupant for the role.
Equis hires Macquarie's Secen as partner
Asia-focused infrastructure investor Equis Group has appointed Damian Secen, a former senior managing director at Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA), as a partner in its Singapore office.
CalPERS names ex-SAFE executive as CIO
California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) has appointed Yu Ben Meng, who has spent the last three years as deputy CIO of China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) as its new CIO.
Australia's AVCAL appoints local LP as new chair
The Australian Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) – which will be known as the Australian Investment Council from next year – has appointed its first chairperson from the local institutional investor community.
CHAMP exits Australian forex broker Pepperstone
CHAMP Private Equity has exited Australian foreign exchange broker Pepperstone following a buyout by its founders, senior management and Fiona Lock, a managing director at the PE firm.
Franklin Templeton, Asia Alternatives to launch fund-of-funds
Franklin Templeton Investment and Asia Alternatives have agreed to form a joint venture that will provide bespoke global private equity fund-of-funds solutions.
Equis hires UTIMCO's Mark Warner as partner
Asia-focused infrastructure investor Equis Group has appointed Mark Warner, who previously led natural resources investments at the UTIMCO, the University of Texas and Texas A&M University endowment, as a partner.
TPG Growth names India, Southeast Asia head
Shailesh Rao (pictured), a former executive at Twitter and Google, has been named head of India and Southeast Asia for TPG Growth, the middle market investment platform of TPG Capital.
True North's Nirula joins Carlyle Asia PE team
Vikram Nirula, a co-founder of Indian PE firm True North, has joined The Carlyle Group as a managing director responsible for private equity. He will be based in Mumbai and advise on Carlyle’s investment activities in India.
KKR strengthens Japan private equity team
KKR has hired Kazuyuki Kido, who previously spent 20 years at SMBC Nikko Securities and Nikko Principal Investments, as a managing director in its Tokyo-based team.
ADIA hires ex-KKR executive to lead India, SE Asia PE
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) has hired Kabir Mathur, a former member of KKR’s Asia leadership team, to head its private equity investments in India and Southeast Asia.
Y Combinator hires ex-Baidu COO to lead China business
Silicon Valley-based seed-stage accelerator Y Combinator (YC) has chosen Qi Lu, the former group president and COO of search giant Baidu, as the founding CEO of its China branch, YC China.
Malaysia's Khazanah names EPF CEO as managing director
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has appointed Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, CEO of state-controlled Employees Provident Fund (EPF), as its new managing director.
BGH hires Blackstone Australia executive
BGH, the Australia and New Zealand-focused private equity firm set up by former TPG Capital Asia co-head Ben Gray, has hired Jonathan Chamberlain, a managing director at The Blackstone Group, as a partner.
L Catterton's Sanjay Gujral rejoins Everstone as COO
Sanjay Gujral, a former executive director at Everstone Capital who left the firm to join the management team at L Catterton Asia, has returned to the GP to serve as COO.
Khazanah's entire board offers to step down
Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional has confirmed that its entire board of directors is willing to resign. It comes as a newly elected government looks to curb corruption in state investment programs.
Andreessen Horowitz promotes Connie Chan to partner
Connie Chan (pictured), the executive at US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz responsible for managing the Asian network, has been promoted to general partner.
Pantheon opens Tokyo office to service Japanese LPs
Pantheon has opened an office in Tokyo, having won separate account mandates from the likes of Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF).
ICG appoints Southeast Asia PE, mezzanine head
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) has appointed Escamillo Lin, formerly of CDH Investments, as managing director and head of Southeast Asia for private equity and mezzanine.
Hideyuki Inokuma to retire from Advantage Partners
Hideyuki Inokuma, who as chief administrative officer at Advantage Partners is responsible for investor relations as well as middle and back-office functions, is to retire from the Japan-based firm.
Malaysia's Affin Hwang launches private equity unit
Malaysia-based Affin Hwang Asset Management has launched a private equity arm under the name Bintang Capital Partners.
Ropes & Gray adds fund formation counsel in Hong Kong
Ropes & Gray has appointed Chune Loong Lum as a counsel with its private investment funds practice in Hong Kong. He is rejoining the firm after an approximately one-year stint with Skadden.
