Jalak Jobanputra, a venture capitalist known for having backed companies with exits to AOL, IBM, Oracle and several IPOs, has been named Managing Director and Founding Partner at RTP Ventures, a newly formed USD120M fund closely associated with ru-Net, a Moscow-based USD700m international investor. With a vision of targeting innovative companies and differentiating technologies that will see tomorrow’s growth, Jobanputra joins managing director Kirill Sheynkman at RTP Ventures’ New York City headquarters. She will focus on consumer internet, mobile, payments, e-commerce, and social enterprise deals. "I am thrilled to join a team of investors who are dedicated to cross-border, global

DC Advisory Partners has appointed a third Managing Director to its Debt Advisory Group. Sergio Ronga joins the London office this week and will work alongside Jonathan Trower and Ciara O’Neill. He will be specifically responsible for providing advice on infrastructure and social service transactions. Ronga’s fourteen year career in finance includes almost six years with Macquarie where he was a Managing Director in the debt advisory team. During this time he advised a wide range of transactions including the acquisition and refinancing of Thames Water, the acquisition financing for Southern Water and the refinancing of Moto, ESP and Tanquid.

Private equity real estate firm, Benson Elliot Capital Management, has made two significant appointments since the New Year, with Georg Strassner and James Jakeman joining the company in senior roles. Strassner and Jakeman will focus on the German-speaking and UK markets respectively, adding to Benson Elliot’s already strong capabilities in these strategically important regions.   Strassner was previously Managing Director and Head of Real Estate Management at Strategic Value Partners in Frankfurt, where he led a team of twelve real estate professionals responsible for managing a 180-asset, EUR1.5 billion German property portfolio. Before that, he was Regional Head, South, at

Melinda Rishkofski (pictured), who has represented private equity fund managers, international financial institutions and portfolio companies in Russia, Eastern Europe, the UK and the US, has joined Baker Botts as a partner in the firm’s Moscow office. Rishkofski’s experience includes working with Russian and Eastern European privatisation policies, policy advice and drafting laws for the new Russian economy, development of Russian corporate securities and regulatory structures. She also worked on regulatory and legislative matters with representatives for the US and Russian governments. "Melinda adds depth to our international transactional resources," says Baker Botts Managing Partner Walt Smith. "Her focus on

GCP, a provider of blended equity and debt to the UK’s small to medium sized businesses, has boosted its deal team with the appointment of Kirsty McDonald (pictured), who joins from 3i, as an Investment Director. McDonald says: "Businesses have an increasing need for flexible, patient capital, suited to achieving their growth plans. This is key to the economic recovery. I wanted to join an investor that works with a business to help to deliver value and GCP takes an innovative approach to this. Its funding structures do not rely on third party bank debt, as it provides the majority

Private equity expert William Lehr has joined PSMJ’s M&A consulting team. Lehr joins PSMJ with more than a decade of private investment experience, including serving as a Vice President with Blue Point Capital Partners where he was closely involved with Blue Point’s investment in 600-person Callison Architecture. "We are thrilled to have Bill on the team. Around the United States and around the world, we have taken great care in building the most respected and sought-after brand when it comes to the business of architecture and engineering," says PSMJ President and CEO Frank Stasiowski, FAIA. "Our merger and acquisition practice