Axa Private Equity has appointed Benoit Verbrugghe as senior managing director, head of the New York office.
Verbrugghe will be responsible for helping to further expand Axa Private Equity’s business in North America.
Previously, Verbrugghe was a managing director based in Axa Private Equity’s Paris office where, as part of the fund of funds team, he played an active role in developing the firm’s business around the world, including North America.
In his new position, Verbrugghe has relocated to New York and will focus on North America, where Axa Private Equity has achieved growth in the last several months.
Over the past 18 months, Verbrugghe played a key role alongside Dominique Senequier, chief executive officer, and Vincent Gombault, managing director fund of funds, in Axa Private Equity’s April 2010 acquisition of a USD1.9bn portfolio of limited partnership interests in private equity funds from Bank of America. This deal represented one of the largest secondary private equity transactions in history.
“Benoit has demonstrated strong leadership and formidable investment strategy skills,” says Senequier. “The selection of Benoit to head up the New York office is a reflection of his substantial contributions to the firm. We see significant opportunities in the North American market and we are pleased to have Benoit lead our business in the region.”
Verbrugghe joined Axa Private Equity in 1999, having formerly worked in M&A transactions at a boutique firm.
