Appointments

Former GKN CEO joins Unitas Capital as partner

Unitas Capital has appointed Sir Kevin Smith as a partner of the firm. Formerly CEO of GKN, a FTSE100-listed global engineering and manufacturing company, Smith will be based in Hong Kong and work closely with existing executives and portfolio companies....

Portman Holdings opens Hong Kong office

Portman Holdings, an international real estate company, has announced the opening of its Hong Kong office, with the hire of Stanley Chin as a managing director for Greater China.

Jones Lang LaSalle announces new Japan head

Jones Lang LaSalle has announced that Yoichiro Hamaoka will be stepping down from his role looking after Japanese business at the firm, while ex-Goldman Sachs exec Toshinobu Kasai will succeed him.

WestSummit Capital adds two partners

WestSummit Capital, a Chinese technology-focused growth capital firm, has added David Lam as managing director and promoted Elise Huang to partner, taking the firm’s number of partners to six.

Carlyle promotes three Asia professionals to MD level

The Carlyle Group has named 13 new managing directors, including Hiroyuki Otsuka in Tokyo, Matthew Hunter in Sydney and Wayne Bannon in Hong Kong, as part of a raft of promotions that saw 41 professionals elevated to senior positions.

Kelvin Chan leaves Partners Group's Asia PE team

Kelvin Chan has stepped down as a managing director with Partners Group’s Asia Pacific private equity team. The global private markets player, which makes primary, secondary and direct investments, has appointed Kelvin Yu in his place.

Yamada replaces Hirano as co-head of Carlyle Japan

Kazuhiro Yamada has been named co-head of The Carlyle Group’s Japanese operations, replacing Masao Hirano who is leaving the private equity firm. Yamada began his duties on January 1, working in collaboration with current co-head Tamotsu Adachi.

HarbourVest promotes three in Asia Pacific team

Tim Flower, who moved to Hong Kong in 2010 to head up HarbourVest Partners’ secondary investments in Asia, has been promoted to principal. Two other Asia-based executives, Kelvin Yap and Maggie Chan, have been named vice presidents.

Hodes Weill makes foray into Asia

Real estate advisory firm Hodes Weill & Associates has expanded into Asia, opening an office in Hong Kong and appointing former managing director of LXL Capital Partners Alfredo Lobo as partner for the region.

Warburg Pincus names new India co-heads

Warburg Pincus has elevated managing directors Niten Malhan and Vishal Mahadevia to the roles of co-heads of the firm's India business, assuming the responsibilities held by Managing Director Dalip Pathak, who founded the India office. Their appointments...

PE succession planning: Continuity issues
PE succession planning: Continuity issues

Asia’s private equity industry may not be old, but it is still volatile. Firms that fail to address succession planning – due to staff turnover if not staff ages – risk losing the confidence of LPs.

  • GPs
MAVCAP names Bujang as CEO

Malaysia Venture Capital Management (MAVCAP) has named Jamaludin Bujang as CEO, succeeding Husni Salleh, who exited the position earlier this year to become CEO of Bumiputera Agenda Coordinating Unit.

Carlyle poaches Affinity MD to head up Korea operations

The Carlyle Group has appointed Sanghyun Lee as managing director with responsibility for the private equity firm’s South Korean investment activities. Lee joints from Affinity Equity Partners, where he also served as Korea-focused managing director....

Towers Watson hires professionals from Squadron, Navis

Professional services provider Towers Watson has appointed Richard Tan and Agnes Lee as senior private markets consultants in Hong Kong. As part of the company’s private markets research team, they will focus on helping private equity firms and other...