French private equity firm PAI Partners has announced the appointment of Lionel Zinsou as a member of the executive committee.
French private equity firm PAI Partners has announced the appointment of Lionel Zinsou as a member of the executive committee. Zinsou, 53, will arrive in July from Rothschild & Cie where he has been a general partner since 1997 and is currently head of the consumer products group, head of Middle East and Africa and a member of the global investment bank committee.
During his time at Rothschild, he advised PAI on numerous transactions, including Panzani, Amora Maille, William Saurin, Lustucru, United Biscuits, Yoplait and Vivarte.
Zinsou began his professional career as a lecturer and a professor in economics at University of Paris XIII as well as a member of the department of industry’s ministerial office and later of the prime minister’s office
In 1986 he joined Danone, where he held various positions including group corporate development director, managing director of HP and Lea & Perrins, and a member of the group executive committee.
‘I am delighted to be joining PAI,’ Zinsou says. ‘I fully share PAI’s strategy to acquire market-leading businesses and increase their strategic value, and I have developed a deep and constructive relationship with the team over the past 10 years.’
The firm’s chairman and chief executive Dominique Mégret says: ‘We are extremely pleased to welcome Lionel Zinsou as a member of the executive committee. We have known Lionel for many years and have worked with him on numerous transactions. We consider his experience, judgement and stature in the business community to be great assets for PAI.’
