People
Solomon Wifa has joined Willkie Farr & Gallagher firm as a partner in then firm’s London office.
Wifa, a well-established investment funds lawyer with experience across a diverse range of asset classes, has represented sponsors in the formation of, and institutional investors with respect to their investments in, global private equity, hedge, buyout, mezzanine and venture capital funds. Wifa has advised on a wide range of secondary transactions involving private equity and hedge funds and on formation of emerging market funds investing in China, sub-Saharan Africa, India, Turkey and Central and Eastern Europe.
“Sol’s addition is an important step
Maranon Capital has appointed Daniel Kirmse and Santo Barretta as Portfolio Analysts while Fiona O’Connor has joined the firm as an Executive Assistant.
Kirmse was previously a Commercial Banking Representative with MB Financial Bank where he was responsible for investment underwriting and portfolio management. He earned both a BS and a MS in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a non-practicing CPA.
Barretta joins Maranon from Standard & Poor’s where he was a Research Analyst in the US Not-For-Profit Health Care group. Santo earned his BBA in Finance from Hofstra University and is currently a 2015
Zeus Capital, the investment banking boutique, has built upon its specialist team in the healthcare sector, hiring Phil Walker as head of healthcare corporate finance.
Walker has over 15 years’ experience in the healthcare and life sciences sectors and has advised on in excess of 50 transactions spanning IPOs, secondary fund-raisings and M&A across the UK, Europe, Israel and the USA.
Most recently, Walker was executive director in corporate finance at Nomura Code Securities, a boutique investment banking firm he co-founded. He was responsible for deal origination and execution and was instrumental in the business being ranked the top
Hercules Technology Growth Capital has appointed Andrew Olson, Corporate Controller, as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Interim Principal Accounting Officer.
The appointment will run until 1 August, 2015, when Mark Harris, the Company’s newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) assumes the role as the company’s successor CFO. In conjunction with being named Interim CFO and Principal Accounting Officer, Olson has been promoted to Vice President of Finance and Senior Controller. Jessica Baron’s departure, effective 9 June, 2015, was previously disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K filing dated 20 March, 2015, which announced her decision to resign from her position within
Actis has opened an office in Mexico City, its 12th office globally. This opening reinforces the Firm’s leading position in the energy sector in Latin America and allows Actis to capitalise on the many other opportunities in the region.
As the second largest economy in Latin America and currently undergoing extensive reform of its energy market, Mexico is a compelling market for investment in the power sector.
Actis has an established track record in Latin America, with investments in the energy, education, financial services and consumer industries. To date, it has invested over US$1.2bn across the region, representing
Middle-market mergers and acquisitions firm Woodbridge International, has opened a new office in Warsaw, Poland. The firm’s first Eastern Europe branch will be headed up by Martin Balawajder, Senior M&A Advisor.
An accomplished corporate finance professional, Balawajder has held a number of senior positions at major financial services companies such as HSBC and J.P. Morgan. He has also served in executive roles for Poland-based public companies and investment banking firms. He earned a BSc from the London School of Economics.
Balawajder’s strategic perspective and M&A expertise across a range of sectors will benefit Woodbridge’s sell-side clients based in Poland, as
Middle market private equity firm Wynnchurch Capital has promoted Chris O’Brien and Ian Kirson to Partner.
John A Hatherly, President and Managing Partner of Wynnchurch, says: “The closing of our most recent investment fund at $1.2 billion is a testament to the team we have built and the consistent returns we have generated for our investors. Chris and Ian have been leading contributors to these results for over ten years, playing integral roles in a significant number of Wynnchurch's most successful investments. They have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and character and, on behalf of Frank Hayes, Terry Theodore and myself,
21 Centrale Partners has appointed Françoise Gri to the firm’s supervisory board.
Supervisory board members are high-level, successful entrepreneurs and prominent business people who offer strong development support through the contribution of know-how and experience in a variety of fields and industries as well as the generation of potential investment opportunities.
Gri’s longstanding experience and knowledge in management, information technology, organisation and change management are major strengths bringing added value the 21 Centrale Partners investment team and the managers of portfolio companies.
Gérard Pluvinet, Founding Managing Partner of 21 Centrale Partners, says: “We are delighted to welcome Françoise
Bravia Capital Hong Kong Limited Bravia Capital has added Anne Oian (pictured) to the firm’s Advisory Board, with immediate effect.
Oian has had a stellar career in the banking sector with virtually every major shipping line worldwide. Beginning her career as a junior credit officer in 1975, Oian became Global Head of Shipping for DNB Bank, Oslo, Norway. She has been a Director of a myriad number of organiaations – shipping companies, insurance companies, EXIM banks, trade and regulatory forums, as well as public and private companies.
CEO of Bravia Capital, Bharat Bhise, says: “I am delighted that Anne has
Tilney Bestinvest, the UK investment and financial planning group, has appointed Stuart Layzell as Chief Financial Officer.
Layzell brings to Tilney Bestinvest a wide range of experience in senior management, M&A and private equity roles in both the UK and US.
Layzell began his career with PwC where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant and worked in their M&A advisory team before moving to the US, where he lived for nine years and held senior management roles at two technology companies. On his return to the UK he spent seven years with LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking
Events
12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
