European People News, February 2011

Phoenix Boosts Staff

Jim Graham has left Candover to join U.K.-based mid-market private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners as an operating partner.

“Jim’s appointment as operating partner is a new role within Phoenix and his experience will strengthen Phoenix’s engagement with our portfolio company management teams,” said Phoenix’s Hugh Lenon.

Before he spent three years at Candover, Graham was marketing manager for the pre-pay business of mobile phone network Orange.

Phoenix has also hired strategy consultant Ed Lunken from LEK Consulting, where he worked for three years.

Lunken, who takes the role of origination analyst, has also served at the European Commission in a research role.

Godfrey to Lead Secondcap Sales

Following authorization for its SecondaryNet trading platform (See LP Briefs), London-based Secondcap has named Christopher Godfrey head of business development.

Godfrey previously worked as sales director for Europe, Middle East and Africa for SunGard‘s Investran private equity software.

At Secondcap, he will oversee sales strategy and marketing.

“Christopher brings a depth of experience in driving market adoption of industry changing technology in private equity and will help ensure we place our customers at the very heart of our business,” Francois Gamblin, CEO of Secondcap, said in a statement.

SecondaryNet is an online automated trading platform for global private equity, real estate and infrastructure secondaries.

Advent Offers Pfost Office

Life science entrepreneur Dale Pfost has joined Advent Venture Partners.

After 25 years in the genomics, diagnostics and therapeutics industry, during which he launched four companies, Pfost will move to Advent’s U.S.-based office as a venture partner.

The firm is investing from its $120 million life sciences fund, which it raised in November 2010.

The firm previously backed Pfost’s prior company, called Oxford GlycoSciences, which later listed on the London Stock Exchange.

“Dale is an outstanding addition to our team. His track record of building, growing and securing successful exits for his life sciences companies encompasses almost three decades,” Advent General Partner Raj Parekh said in a statement.

Advent’s recent investments include Avila Therapeutics, Biocartis, Respivert, Thiakis, Algeta and Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics.

Its life sciences fund targets early stage and growth companies in the United Kingdom and Europe.

TA Promotes Two in London

Boston-based private equity firm TA Associates has announced two promotions in its London office.

Christopher Parkin has moved up from principal to director. He previously was an ex-director at Jupiter Fund Management and led TA investments in homeware retailer Cath Kidston and online clothes shop M and M Direct.

In addition, Birker Bahnsen, who covers European health care and cross-sector Scandinavian businesses for TA, was promoted to senior vice-president from vice-president.

The promotions were part of a wider drive across TA’s Boston, Menlo Park, Calif., and Mumbai offices.

TA is a middle market private equity firm that manages more than $16 billion.

PineBridge Eyes Nordic Clients with Simonsen Hire

After 10 years working with investors in the region, PineBridge Investments is seeking to widen its Northern European client base with the appointment of Morten Simonsen as head of institutional sales for the Nordic region.

Simonsen, who previously held a similar role at Alfred Berg, part of BNP Paribas, will oversee institutional sales and business development efforts across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.

He will work with Susanna Rosenberg, institutional sales manager, in developing the region, from PineBridge’s London office.

New York-based PineBridge manages $83 billion in assets across private equity, listed equity, fixed income and hedging platforms.

Harris Williams Adds Middle-Market Specialist

M&A adviser Harris Williams has hired investment banker Julien Darmon as a managing director in its London office, citing his extensive contacts in the United States and United Kingdom,

The appointment kicks off the American firm’s planned expansion in Europe in 2011.

In his previous role at Robert W. Baird, Darmon advised middle-market U.S.- and U.K.-based clients on public and private divestments, M&As and capital raising.

Harris Williams’ clients include private equity and venture capital firms, such as 3i, Apax Partners, The Carlyle Group and Citigroup Venture Capital.

The firm’s European advisory practice in London is led by Thierry Monjauze.

Ferrari Quickens Colt PaceMark Ferrari, previously Devonshire Investments’ managing director, will join business IT provider Colt as CFO as of March 31. Prior to other roles with Devonshire, Ferrari served as CFO of Fidelity Investments Limited Partnership, part of FMR, with which Devonshire was affiliated.

His appointment was prompted by the resignation of previous Colt CFO Stuart Jackson, who intends to continue with the company in a non-executive capacity.

Ferrari has been a non-executive director of Colt since early 2009.