Yichen Zhang, chairman and chief executive officer of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited, has been elected to the Emerging Markes Private Equity Association’s (EMPEA) board of directors.
Zhang (pictured) founded CITIC Capital in 2002. Prior to CITIC Capital, he joined CITIC Group in 2000 as an executive director of CITIC Pacific and president of CITIC Pacific Communications.
As chairman and chief executive officer of CITIC Capital, he leads one of China’s prominent investment firms. CITIC manages over USD4bn from both international and Chinese investors, specialising in alternative investing management and advisory.
Zhang says: “I am honoured to be joining this group of experienced global leaders on EMPEA’s board of directors. I look forward to supporting the organisation’s continued efforts to develop the asset class throughout emerging markets, as well as to strengthen its partnerships within Asia.”
EMPEA now serves approximately 320 member firms, representing over USD1trn in assets under management. EMPEA members include institutional investors, fund managers and other industry stakeholders who share the belief that private equity investment in emerging markets can generate attractive returns to investors while creating significant value for companies, economies and communities.
Robert W van Zwieten, president and chief executive of EMPEA, says: “With Asia playing an increasing role in driving the growth story of emerging markets, a deep understanding of the region and the Chinese market in particular is critical to EMPEA’s continued success in delivering actionable intelligence to global investors. We are very fortunate to have such an experienced and dedicated industry leader joining our board of directors and lending his expertise to the organisation.”
Zhang will also have a seat on EMPEA’s newly expanded Asia Council. The Council, chaired by David Pierce, FLAG Squadron Asia, includes recent appointees Jane Brett, Asian Development Bank; Douglas Clayton, Leopard Capital; Chris Freund, Mekong Capital; Jie Gong, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners; Mukul Gulati, Zephyr Peacock Management India; Sudhir Sethi, IDG Ventures India; John Stephens, Pomona Capital; Sebastiaan Van den Berg, HarbourVest Partners (Asia) Limited; and Biao Xing, National Council for Social Security Fund PRC.
