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Eight new members have joined EDHEC-Risk Institute’s international advisory board, which brings together scholars, representatives of regulatory bodies as well as senior executives from business partners and other leading institutions.
The role of the international advisory board is to validate the relevance and goals of the research programme proposals presented by the institute’s management and to evaluate research outcomes with respect to their potential impact on industry practices.
The 47 members of the board also advise on the objectives and contents of projects deriving from the expertise of the institute, thereby ensuring that graduate and executive programmes remain
Brad Ackerman has joined Kinetic Partners’ New York office as a director within the consulting team.
In his new role, Ackerman will support the existing due diligence team and further develop the global alternative investment operational due diligence service offering to investors.
An increasing number of investors are ensuring that detailed compliance and regulatory framework reviews are undertaken as part of the operational due diligence (ODD) process. Together with a focus on ensuring the independence of fund directors, ODD skills are increasingly in demand.
With more than 20 years working in financial services, Ackerman joins Kinetic Partners
RRE Ventures, an early stage venture investor based in New York, has appointed Steve Schlafman as a principal.
Schlafman (pictured) brings a wide range of investment experience to RRE.
"New York represents one of the most exciting markets in the Venture Capital industry today," says Stuart Ellman, RRE Ventures co-managing partner. "As one of the largest and most active early stage investors in the New York region, a key element of RRE Ventures’ success has been our ability to attract highly talented investors to work alongside the entrepreneurs leading the next wave of innovation here. Steve Schlafman has a stellar reputation within the entrepreneur community and will be immediately accretive to our mission."
SC Distributors, an alternative investment distribution organisation, has appointed Shelle Graves as regional vice president for the South Central region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Graves joins SC Distributors from RS Funds, where she was a proven top performer over the past nine and a half years. During her tenure at RS Funds, Graves’ region consistently ranked number one in sales with some of the country’s top tier investment firms.
“We’re excited to add someone with Shelle’s proven background and experience,” says Mike McDaniel, national sales manager. “Her dynamic track record in the financial services industry and
Jennifer C "Jenny” Wheater has joined the corporate practice group of Duane Morris as a partner based in the firm’s London office.
Wheater’s (pictured) addition further strengthens Duane Morris’ global corporate capabilities, particularly in the area of tax issues in the private equity and cross-border transactions. Wheater joins the firm from Proskauer Rose.
Wheater focuses her practice on the tax aspects of a broad range of issues. She has significant experience in structuring private equity, venture capital and other funds, including holding companies, carried interest and deal structures. Additionally, she advises extensively on value-added tax (VAT), corporate residence and
Cudos Capital, a middle market investment firm focused on growth equity, restructuring and buyouts in Central and Eastern Europe, has adopted Navatar Private Equity CRM to manage its investors and deploy its funds efficiently.
Cudos Capital is a part of Cudos Group, an investment company aimed at achieving outstanding returns to entrepreneurial investors by creating lasting value through growth and profitability. The firm manages and operates Cudos Entrepreneurs’ Fund I and picked Navatar to jump-start its investment infrastructure using state-of-the-art cloud technology.
"Navatar helped us establish our deal pipeline in hardly anytime at all," says Alon Shklarek (pictured),
Benson Elliot, the UK-based private equity real estate fund manager, has appointed Lord Levene of Portsoken to the firm’s board of strategic advisors.
Lord Levene (pictured) brings a wealth of experience to Benson Elliot from a career in industry, finance and government spanning more than 40 years.
Currently chairman of Starr Underwriting Agents, General Dynamics UK and the UK Ministry of Defence Reform Group, Lord Levene was previously chairman of Lloyd’s – the insurance market – a position he held from 2002 to 2011.
Before joining Lloyd’s Lord Levene served as vice chairman of Deutsche Bank, having
Kinetic Partners, an adviser to the financial services industry, has appointed Gary Ashford as a member within the firm’s global tax team.
This new appointment further enhances Kinetic Partners’ capabilities across the alternative investment tax spectrum, while also creating a new area of expertise within the practice.
As an expert in offshore tax risk and investigation matters, Ashford (pictured) will assist clients, financial institutions and fiduciary companies in relation to the various FATCA intergovernmental agreements, global transparency and voluntary tax disclosure facility industry, the Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility, the Swiss/UK tax agreement and general asset preservation.
Ashford joins
The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) has appointed three new members to its international advisory board.
The three new members are Gao Xiqing (pictured), president of the China Investment Corporation (CIC); Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak, chief executive of Mubadala Development Company; and Ahmad Mohamed Al-Sayed, chief executive of Qatar Investment Authority.
Immediately prior to his post, Xiqing served as deputy chairman of the National Council for the Social Security Fund. He also worked as deputy chairman at the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and general counsel and the director general of the Public Offering Supervision Department. In the 1990s, he
Addepar, a provider of smart technology platforms for wealth and investment management, has appointed Eric Poirier as chief executive officer and Karen White as president and chief operating officer.
Addepar co-founder Joe Lonsdale continues to serve in his current role as executive chairman of the board, and co-founder Jason Mirra continues as chief technical officer. Mike Paulus, who was among Addepar’s first employees and served as president, is now the company’s chief strategy officer.
Poirier (pictured) and White have both been appointed to the company’s board of directors.
“Addepar’s success over the last few years has positioned
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12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
12 November, 2026 – 5:00 pm
