Alternative investment firm NIR Group has appointed Robert M. Cohen as managing director. Based in the firm’s Roslyn, New York, headquarters, Cohen is responsible for overseeing operations and business development. "Bobby has a proven track-record in managing and building a successful firm in the financial services sector," says Corey Ribotsky, managing member and head portfolio manager. "We are confident that he will add significant value to us as we continue to build our operation." For 15 years Cohen was founder and president of Robert M. Cohen, a full service brokerage firm specialising in investment banking, research and market making. Most

Canaan Partners, a global venture capital firm, has appointed Tim Shannon as venture partner. Shannon (pictured) is based in Canaan’s Westport, Connecticut office, from where he will support the firm’s current healthcare portfolio companies and identify new investment opportunities. Shannon brings more than 15 years of biopharmaceutical operational experience leading product and business development to Canaan’s investments. He was most recently president and chief executive officer at CuraGen, a publicly-held biopharmaceutical company focused on oncology, which was acquired by Celldex Therapeutics in October 2009. "Tim is a key addition to the firm’s healthcare team, particularly as the investment climate and

MidOcean Partners, a middle market private equity firm, has appointed Robert S. "Steve" Miller as chairman of the firm. Miller (pictured) will work with the firm’s executive board, provide strategic guidance to MidOcean’s portfolio companies, and participate in the sourcing, evaluation and execution of additional investments. Mark Angelson, who joined the MidOcean executive board in 2004 and was named chairman in December 2007, will continue as a member of the board. Miller most recently served as chairman and chief executive, and then as executive chairman, of auto parts giant Delphi Corporation. He has also held top leadership posts at many

Investment banking boutique Chestnut Hill Partners has appointed Ryan Jon Orner as a director to manage and oversee the firm’s increased activity in targeted search engagements across middle market companies. Additionally, he will be involved in all other aspects of Chestnut Hill Partners’ transactions including merger and acquisition origination, co-investment opportunities, and advisory services. Paul L. Schaye, founding partner and managing director of Chestnut Hill Partners, says: “Ryan brings a unique and powerful combination of transaction experience and relationships across our middle market private equity target market. Ryan’s market knowledge and insights will be additive to the firm and valuable

Investment banking boutique Chestnut Hill Partners has appointed Michael W. Jalbert as a managing director. Jalbert’s (pictured) primary responsibility will be to manage and oversee the firm’s executive sponsorship programme, which makes it possible for seasoned operating executives to participate in the development of private equity transactions and ultimately to run the acquired companies. Paul L. Schaye, founding partner and managing director of Chestnut Hill Partners, says: “Throughout his career, Michael has displayed an outstanding business sense and a keen eye for talent. His knowledge of the best of the best within various business functional areas allows him to match the

International law firm Dechert has appointed Olivier Dumas as a partner in the financial services practice group in Paris.   Prior to joining Dechert, Dumas (pictured) was a partner at Proskauer Rose where he was co-head of its Paris office’s private equity team focusing on fund formation. Dumas advises on all tax and legal aspects of fund formation, the creation of management companies and financial regulatory matters. He is a member and adviser – currently on training matters and previously on ethics matters – to the French Private Equity Association. He is also a member of the European Venture Capital

Elevation Partners, a private equity firm focused on large-scale investments in consumer and technology businesses, has hired Rajiv Dutta as a managing director. Dutta (pictured) brings to Elevation more than 25 years of senior operational and investment experience in consumer and technology businesses. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of eBay and president of eBay Marketplaces. In his new role, Dutta will work with Elevation’s five co-founders and the rest of the Elevation team to evaluate investment opportunities, advise the senior management of Elevation’s portfolio companies, and drive the overall strategy of the firm. Fred Anderson, managing director