The European Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (EVCA) has appointed Michael Collins as public affairs director.
Collins (pictured) will direct the EVCA’s political advocacy and regulatory affairs strategy, taking responsibility for all policy areas affecting the European private equity and venture capital industry and heading up the association’s policy department.
He will develop the EVCA’s long-term public affairs vision, coordinate advocacy work with associated organisations and ensure that the EVCA maintains its effective engagement with EU and national stakeholders in high-level policy discussions.
EVCA secretary-general Dörte Höppner says: "The EVCA was founded 30 years ago to promote and sustain the private equity and venture capital industry and political advocacy has always played a central role in our work.
"Michael’s wealth of experience and expertise will allow the EVCA to speak for private equity and venture capital in Europe with an even stronger voice. We are delighted to have him on board."
Collins says: "I am excited to be joining the EVCA at this crucial time for the industry, as it becomes regulated for the first time at EU level through the AIFM Directive. Private equity has a vital role to play in stimulating economic growth in Europe and I look forward to bringing my financial policy experience to bear in supporting the private equity industry."
Collins will join the EVCA on 6 April 2013 from Citibank, where he is currently managing Ddrector of European government affairs.
A graduate of Wadham College, Oxford, he was financial counsellor and head of the Ecofin section at the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels for four years before moving to Citibank in 2010. Collins spent five years at HM Treasury in London before earlier positions with the UK Permanent Representation and the Scottish Office in Edinburgh.
