KKR & Co has appointed Ryan Stork as a Partner and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Stork is joining KKR from BlackRock where he held multiple leadership roles for more than 20 years, including most recently as Deputy Chief Operating Officer. He also served as Chairman of Asia Pacific, Global Head of Aladdin – BlackRock’s investment and risk management technology platform, Head of the Institutional Client Business in Continental Europe, and Co-Head of the Financial Institutions Group.  Stork was also a member of BlackRock’s Global Executive Committee and a board member of BlackRock’s Foundation. Over his career, Ryan has worked and

True Wind Capital (True Wind), a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on investing in leading technology companies, has promoted David Hirsch, Will Heldfond and John Gray to Principal. Hirsch joined True Wind in 2016 from Wind Point Partners and focuses on investments in the industrial & transportation, government, marketing, and SMB sectors.  Heldfond joined True Wind in 2018 from Accel-KKR and focuses on investments in the financial technology, public safety, and healthcare technology sectors.  Gray joined True Wind in 2020 from Audax Private Equity and focuses on investments in enterprise software, including construction & engineering, HR, and education sectors,

Kainos Capital (Kainos), a food and consumer-focused private equity firm, has appointed David Gassko as Principal. Gassko will be actively involved in leading the evaluation, execution, and management of portfolio companies. He will also continue to help lead the firm’s associate recruiting activities and serve as a member of the ESG Committee.    After beginning his career as an investment banker with Wells Fargo Securities, Gassko joined Kainos in 2013 as an Associate. Following business school, he returned to Kainos as a Vice President. Gassko holds an MBA from The Wharton School where he graduated with honours, and a BA

Suntera Global has appointed Ian Horswell as Global Head of Business Development within the fund services arm of its international operations.

As part of its continuing commitment to quality and service, Crestbridge has recognised 39 individuals across its network of offices, as part of its 2022 New Year promotions.

Brand Velocity Partners (BVP), a private equity firm focused on acquiring and growing consumer businesses, has appointed two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning as a Partner. Manning will be involved in all aspects of the firm, including supporting its growth, sourcing new investment opportunities, and enhancing the value of its portfolio companies.    BVP grows companies through better marketing execution, a people-focused approach, and professionalized management. Manning was first introduced to BVP as an investor before later becoming a brand ambassador for BVP-owned BBQGuys.

Loomis, Sayles & Company, an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has launched the Loomis Sayles Private Credit Group which will be led by new hire Chris Gudmastad, CFA, as head of private credit. Myles Reinecke, CFA, also joins as senior private credit analyst. Private credit, a growing asset class increasingly in demand across the global institutional marketplace, will be a key component of Loomis Sayles’ client-based solutions suite going forward. Under Gudmastad’s leadership, the Loomis Sayles Private Credit Group’s objective is to deliver portfolios that seek to maximise current income and total return through diversified exposure to private fixed income

European private equity firm IK Partners (IK) has appointed Pete Wilson as its first UK Mid Cap Partner. In addition, five individuals based across the firm’s Paris, Stockholm and London offices have been promoted to Partner. Prior to joining IK, Wilson was a Partner and Head of UK Private Equity at 3i Group, where he spent 15 years. He brings substantial experience, having been involved in numerous investments and portfolio companies across a range of sectors, including Aspen Pumps, Civica, Inspicio, SLR Consulting and Audley Travel. A graduate of Warwick University, he began his career as a strategy consultant at

Baird Capital, the global private equity and venture capital arm of Baird, has appointed Louise Kingston as a Director with the Global Portfolio Operations team in London. Kingston will focus on supporting UK-based investee companies.    Kingston joins Baird Capital from the mid-market private firm Livingbridge, where she spent eight years as an Investment Director within the company’s Value Strategy Group. She has extensive experience defining and executing value creation strategies within investee companies. Kingston has sat on the boards of four to five portfolio companies at any one time. Before this role, she was an Investment Manager at lower