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New York State Teachers shuffles PE, real estate heads
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (NYSTRS) has appointed John Virtanen as managing director for private equity. He moves over from the system’s property portfolio, which will now be overseen by David Gillan.
Australia’s Telstra loses VC unit founder
Deena Shiff, managing director of Telstra’s captive VC unit, has resigned her post to focus on a non-executive career and directorships. She remains as an advisor to the firm and as a board director for investee companies.
Anil Ahuja departs 3i
Anil Ahuja, managing partner and head of Asia for 3i, has quit the private equity firm. According to a statement, Ahuja is leaving to pursue other opportunities, although he will still operate as a part-time consultant to 3i.
Actis adds to Southeast Asia team
Actis has expanded its Southeast Asia team by appointing Ivy Santoso as Indonesian country head and Arjun Oberoi as global healthcare sector head.
SFERS hires New York State Common’s Art Wang
San Francisco Employees’ Retirement System (SFERS) has appointed Art Wang as managing director for private markets, with responsibility for private equity, real estate and real assets. He joins from New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) where...
Commonfund promotes Beijing office head
Commonfund Capital has promoted Leenong Li, head of its Beijing office and wider Asian initiatives, to managing director. He joined the firm in 2010, having previously spent five years as managing director of Jerusalem Venture Partners’ Shanghai office...
BlackRock appoints head of alternatives for North Asia
BlackRock has appointed Jeong Hoon Lee as head of its alternative investment strategy group for North Asia.
Kirkland & Ellis adds Chinese PE lawyer to HK office
Kirkland & Ellis has added private equity M&A specialist Frank Sun to its Hong Kong practice. Sun joins the firm as a partner from US rival Paul Weiss.
Ropes & Gray appoints special situations partner in Hong Kong
Ropes & Gray has promoted Daniel Anderson as a partner in its special situations practice in Hong Kong. He was previously a counsel with the firm.
TA Associates‘ Dhiraj Poddar promoted to principal
TA Associates has promoted Dhiraj Poddar to principal in its Mumbai Office. His job title was previously director.
MoFo opens new office in Singapore
US law firm Morrison & Foerster (MoFo) has opened an office in Singapore, its fifth in the region.
Century Bridge hires ex-PwC assurance executive
Century Bridge Capital has appointed Michael Yan as a director, tasked with providing strategic guidance on asset management and growth strategies. He was previously a senior manager in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) assurance division.
CITIC PE’s Yibing Wu confirmed as chairman of Goldstone
Yibing Wu, president of CITIC Private Equity, has been confirmed as chairman of Goldstone Investment, the direct investment arm of CITIC Securities, following months of speculation.
Profile: KV Asia's Karam Butalia
Karam Butalia, executive chairman of KV Asia Capital, cut his teeth in private equity with Citicorp, set up Standard Chartered’s PE unit, and is now building his own Southeast Asia mid-market buyout shop
Jack Ma’s retirement as Alibaba CEO fuels IPO speculation
Jack Ma will step down as CEO of Alibaba Group in May ahead of the private equity-backed firm’s widely anticipated IPO. Ma, who will remain as chairman indicated that he wanted to hand over to a younger successor, telling employees that “the next...
Massachusetts pension fund appoints PE head
The Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Board (MassPRIM) has appointed Michael Bailey as senior investment officer and director of private equity. The post was previously held by Wayne Smith, who departed in July 2011.
VIDEO: Ralph Jaeger of Siguler Guff
Pockets of growth in lower-tier cities continue to present the most enticing opportunities for emerging markets investors, says Ralph Jaeger, managing director and co-portfolio manager of Siguler Guff’s BRIC Opportunities Funds
Goodwin Procter adds partner to Asia PE practice
Goodwin Procter has recruited Gloria Liu as a partner in its private equity and M&A practices, based in Hong Kong. She joins from Paul Weiss, where she was a senior associate.
EMPEA’s Alexander to join Abraaj
Sarah Alexander, CEO of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), has agreed to join The Abraaj Group as a managing director. EMPEA’s executive committee has recommended that Jennifer Choi, currently vice president of industry and external...
India Awards: PE Professional of the Year – Sanjay Nayar
As head of KKR India, Sanjay Nayar presides over a private equity operation that is becoming ever more diversified to meet the needs of local entrepreneurs. He shared his market outlook with AVCJ.
Blackstone appoints ex-PwC executive as Singapore chairman
The Blackstone Group has named Gautam Banerjee as Singapore chairman and appointed him to its international advisory board. He was previously executive chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers Singapore and also served as the accounting firm’s COO for China,...
Newgate Communications launches in Hong Kong
Newgate Communications has opened its first Asian office in Hong Kong, which is headed by Richard Barton, formerly Asia managing partner at Kreab Gavin Anderson (KGA). This is part of a broader strategic expansion initiative that will also see the firm...
Essex Woodlands promotes Barry, Yang in Shanghai
Silicon Valley-based healthcare investor Essex Woodlands has promoted David Yang and Scott Barry, who run its Shanghai office, to managing director. The promotions, two of five made by the company globally, came into effect on January 1.
GIC appoints Lim Chow Kiat as CIO
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) has named Lim Chow Kiat as its new group chief investment officer, effective February 1. Lim, currently the sovereign wealth fund’s deputy CIO, will replace Ng Kok Song, who is retiring after 42 years...