Tim Burke has joined Castanea Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in branded consumer products and services, as a partner. Rob Smith, a managing partner of Castanea, says: “Tim is an experienced private equity professional and consumer investor and we’re very excited to have him on our team. As a senior investor, Tim has extensive experience in all aspects of middle market investment sourcing, execution, and post acquisition management. He brings with him an extensive network of industry relationships including entrepreneurs, business owners, and investment bankers. Tim’s extensive knowledge and network in the consumer sector will help us

Infrastructure manager Hastings has continued its expansion with three new appointments in the firm’s London and New York offices. Hastings now has more than 35 per cent of its staff covering the European and North American markets from these offices.   “These appointments strengthen our capabilities in areas in which we see significant growth potential for the firm and its clients globally,” says Hastings chief executive Andrew Day. "Each individual brings extensive sector experience and relationships, which we believe will help us continue to build our reputation as a specialist infrastructure investment partner for our clients, combining global knowledge with

Orangefield, a provider of corporate and fund services, has appointed Anna Coutts Donald as director at its UK office.  Coutts Donald will be responsible for growing the UK business and cultivating relationships with key UK and international clients.   The UK office – also known as Waterlow – was acquired in 2012 and since has grown steadily.   ''I am very excited to be joining Orangefield as it is a true global provider of outsourcing services," says Coutts Donald. "Its client coverage and scope of services is a real strength."   Coutts Donald, a Scottish Chartered Accountant and former Council

L Capital has opened a London office headed by Paul Skipworth, the former president and managing director of Glenmorangie and senior vice president of strategy for Moet Hennessy, LVMH Wines & Spirits. “London is a key private equity market and the UK is home to many iconic consumer brands. Our team of multi-disciplinary professionals have unique expertise in managing companies and brands with high emotional content and which offer a distinctive experience for consumers.  Given the strength of the UK market and the opportunities which it offers, it is an obvious next step to expand our network into this market,”

Private equity firm Advent International has appointed Dr Dahai Yu as an operating partner. An executive with extensive operational expertise in the international chemicals industry, Yu will advise and work closely with Advent’s chemicals team to help source new investment opportunities globally, including China, and support Advent’s global chemicals assets post-investment as appropriate.   Yu will take on an advisory role at Allnex, a supplier of coating resins and additives, which was formed following Advent’s acquisition of Cytec Industries’ coating resins business last year.   Yu’s industry experience spans over two decades. Most recently, he held various positions at one

Alter Domus, a European provider of fund and corporate services, has appointed James McEvoy as country executive Ireland. McEvoy will be responsible for the overall management and development of the team and building new client relationships in the region.   “Alter Domus Ireland has a team of experienced and dedicated professionals and is able to provide the full suite of corporate services to local and international clients. I am very excited to be part of Alter Domus and I am impressed by its track record and client base,” says McEvoy.   McEvoy has more than 13 years of experience working

Private equity firm Lightyear Capital has appointed Martin Sullivan as an operating partner. Sullivan will draw upon his decades of experience to work with Lightyear and the management teams of businesses within Lightyear’s portfolio. He currently serves as non-executive chairman of Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford (CGSC), a global reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, and as a director of Paradigm Outcomes, a provider of complex and catastrophic medical management, two of Lightyear’s portfolio companies.   Sullivan spent 37 years with AIG, most recently as president and chief executive officer. After leaving AIG in 2008, Sullivan joined Willis Group Holdings in

Mid-market private equity firm Bowmark Capital has appointed Stephen Delaney as an investment director and Antonia Cheong and Tom Elliott as investment managers. Delaney brings with him seven years’ experience in private equity with Darwin Private Equity, where he worked on a number of investments in the technology, financial services and consumer sectors.  Prior to that, he worked in corporate finance at Citigroup and KPMG.   Cheong joins Bowmark from DC Advisory, where she was part of the corporate finance team focusing on the business services sector. She has advised on a range of acquisitions and debt transactions, including the GBP85

Palamon Capital Partners has strengthened its team with the appointments of Ali (Alexandre) Rahmatollahi as associate partner and Christian Beck as a member of the firm’s board of advisors. Rahmatollahi joins Palamon from Morgan Stanley where he spent nearly eight years in its investment banking division, most recently as an executive director with responsibility for financial sponsor coverage.  Prior to this he was an engagement manager at McKinsey & Company in its general strategy consulting and private equity practices.   Beck is a highly experienced entrepreneur who has been chief executive of several growth businesses including Banqsoft ASA, Sakhalin Petroleum

Hong Kong-based international investment company Cardell Limited has appointed David Ballard as Managing Director of Private Equity. He will be based in Hong Kong and report to David Cardell, CEO of Cardell Limited. Ballard, aged 38, joins Cardell Limited from Morgan Stanley Private Equity, where he was a member of the investment committee who led portfolio investments and helped to build a 35-person team located in New York and London. Ballard has a 14-year track record in investment banking and private equity, of which 11 years were spent with Morgan Stanley. Before co founding the Private Equity Group he was