Francisco Rey has joined the Blackstone Group’s corporate advisory group as a London-based senior managing director, while Andrew Kuo has joined the private equity firm in Hong Kong as a m
Francisco Rey has joined the Blackstone Group’s corporate advisory group as a London-based senior managing director, while Andrew Kuo has joined the private equity firm in Hong Kong as a managing director and vice-chairman for greater China.
Rey will focus on the European communications industry but also help expand the advisory practice in the sector to the Middle East and Asia and complement Blackstone’s efforts in media and technology.
He previously spent 15 years advising clients at Merrill Lynch, where he worked on various large and complex transactions in the broad communications sector. Most recently Rey headed Merrill Lynch’s technology, media and telecoms practice for southern and eastern Europe and the Middle East.
‘We are delighted to have someone of Francisco’s stature and experience join our corporate advisory team,’ says Blackstone senior managing director John Studzinski. ‘He brings valuable expertise to the firm’s growing international advisory group.’
Kuo will be primarily involved in sourcing and managing private equity deals, as well as helping the other business divisions in the greater China region.
‘We are very pleased that Andrew is joining our Asian operation,’ says Blackstone chairman and chief executive Stephen Schwarzman. ‘He brings a wealth of experience working in Taiwan and mainland China, as well as excellent client connections in that region. His experience in direct investment and investment banking will be very useful as Blackstone expands its Asian franchise.’
Kuo has been a managing director and head of greater China for H&Q Asia Pacific since 2005, having previously been a managing director, senior country officer and vice-chairman of the greater China operating committee for JP Morgan in Hong Kong. Between 1989 and 1998, he was with Citibank in Taipei, becoming head of the corporate banking group.
Kuo has also been a member of the advisory committee of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and a member of the advisory board for InvestHK, and is currently an independent non-executive director of Cathay Financial Holdings in Taiwan and of Samson Holding in Hong Kong.
The Blackstone Group is one of the largest independent alternative asset managers in the world with businesses include the management of corporate private equity funds, real estate opportunity funds, funds of hedge funds, mezzanine funds, senior debt funds, proprietary hedge funds and closed-end mutual funds, as well as financial advisory services including mergers and acquisitions advisory, restructuring and reorganisation advisory and fund placement services.
