Private equity investment Siguler Guff & Company has expanded its European operations with the hiring of David Boal and Florian Lahnstein as managing directors based in London.
Boal and Lahnstein will take on leading roles in deepening Siguler Guff's platform and networks in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), with responsibility for marketing the firm's capabilities to institutional investors, consultants, fund managers and deal sponsors. Boal will have a primary focus on the UK, the Netherlands, Nordic countries and the consulting community. Similarly, Lahnstein will have a primary focus on Continental Europe, including Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. Boal and Lahnstein report to Remy Kawkabani, who joined the firm in September 2014 to lead Siguler Guff's European business as a Managing Director and Head of EMEA. They also join Nestor Weigand, Principal and a member of Siguler Guff's real estate investment team, in the firm's London office.
Remy Kawkabani, Managing Director and Head of EMEA, says: "Building out our London-based EMEA team is a testament to Siguler Guff's conviction that our strategies, product offerings and business model are valued-added components in the investment chain. As institutional investors look to deploy additional capital into private equity strategies, and as dynamic GPs and other principal investors look for innovative but respected sources of capital, our expanded presence in Europe makes Siguler Guff well-positioned to build upon our GP and LP relationships and to continue to grow our business globally."
Drew Guff, Managing Director and Founding Partner, adds: "We are delighted to announce that David Boal and Florian Lahnstein have joined Remy Kawkabani and Nestor Weigand as senior executives based in our London office. We look forward to leveraging our strong European presence, the team's market knowledge and their local relationships to build upon Siguler Guff's capabilities as a global, opportunistic private equity investment firm. In addition to our core areas of focus, which include distressed and special situations, real estate, small business and emerging markets, we expect to consider other attractive market niches that arise in the future."
Boal has 30 years of experience and specialises in the marketing and distribution of private equity and infrastructure investment products. Prior to joining Siguler Guff, he led the European fundraising and client coverage team at The Abraaj Group. Previously, he was a Managing Director at Credit Suisse Asset Management, where he was responsible for institutional investor coverage. Earlier in his career, Boal held senior positions at Bank of Ireland Asset Management, J.P. Morgan and Goldman Sachs.
Lahnstein has over 25 years of experience in the investment banking and alternative investment industries in Europe. Prior to joining Siguler Guff, he was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RiverRock European Capital Partners, an early leader in private debt and public equity focused on European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Previously, Lahnstein was a senior investment banker serving as Co-Head of Bear Stearns' European Investment Banking Division and Vice Chairman of Europe at Bear Stearns International. Prior to Bear Stearns, he was Co-Head of the German Investment Banking Division at UBS Investment Bank.
