New PwC PE head

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Corporate Finance has appointed Chris Hemmings as head of its European private equity team. Based in London, Hemmings succeeds Peter Jacobs, who will focus on developing major corporate finance client relationships and will also work closely with the PwC corporate finance advisory board.

Hemmings has been with the firm for over 20 years and a private equity partner since 1995. He has been instrumental in developing the private equity practice in continental Europe over the last few years and recently advised on a number of deals including FTE Automotive and the public-to-private of WET AG in Germany, UTT in The Netherlands, Ontex in Belgium and SigmaKalon in France.

Jacobs has led private equity at PwC Corporate Finance for the last 12 years. Since 1998 the team has advised on over 200 transactions totalling over $26bn. The private equity team now includes over 70 professionals with offices in 13 European countries.

Partner Tony Kenny has also joined the private equity team in London. Prior to moving to the London office, Kenny led the firm’s corporate finance business in south west England and Wales and has been a partner for six years. Kenny will lead the marketing and business development activities for the private equity team.

Malcolm Wren has also been promoted to director in the private equity team. Wren has been with PwC Corporate Finance for seven years and recently worked on the buyout of VNU Malmberg in the Netherlands and Sigma Kalon in France.