On the move, 12.07.2015

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS

Blackstone Group has named Isauro Alfaro as senior advisor to its Mexico team. Alfaro is a co-founder of Mexican restructuring advisory firm Alfaro, Dávila y Ríos SC.

Japan Post Bank Co has set up a division to look for opportunities in private equity investments, Reuters reported. The head of the new division is Tokihiko Shimizu, who previously led the Government Pension Investment Fund’s drive to diversify its allocation of money into alternative assets including private equity and property. Japan Post manages 205 trillion yen ($1.67 trillion) in mainly Japanese government bonds.

American Capital has appointed David G. Richards to its board of directors. Richards is a former portfolio manager at Pine River Capital Management.

Aequitas Capital has appointed Bob Zukis to its advisory board. Zukis worked for almost 30 years at PwC where his positions included lead partner of IT strategy and operations and managing partner of global human resource services, Asia Pacific.

Italian private equity house Charme Capital Partners has hired three former Doughty Hanson executives for its new London office: Francisco Churtichaga, Christopher Fielding and Julian Huxtable.

Excellere Partners has hired Michael Geldart as partner. Most recently, Geldart was the chief operating officer of BioTelemetry.

Flexpoint Ford LLC has hired Kara O’Brien as vice president of investor relations.

Franklin Square has named Marc Yaklofsky as senior vice president of corporate development. Previously, Yaklofsky worked at Nomura Holding America.

KKR has named Marcus Ralling a director on its real estate team. Ralling will be responsible for the asset management of KKR’s European real estate portfolio. Ralling was previously at Pramerica, as managing director and head of U.K. and European asset management.

Teakwood Capital has made three appointments to its team. The Dallas-based private equity firm has named Stu Bell as managing director of business development and David Sikora and Dave Ellett as executive partners. Previously, Bell worked at Comerica; Sikora is the former CEO and founder of Digby; and Ellett is the current CEO of RemitDATA.

PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

Codiak BioSciences Inc, which is focused on using exosomes to treat and diagnose cancer and other diseases, has secured over $80 million in committed funding. Codiak’s investors include Fidelity Management and Research Company, the Alaska Permanent Fund and Alexandria Venture Investments. 

Flexera Software, a portfolio company of Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and Thoma Bravo, said that CEO Mark Bishof will retire on December 31. Jim Ryan, currently the company’s COO, will assume the role of CEO on January 1, 2016. Bishof has served as president and CEO of Flexera since its inception in April 2008, when it spun out of Macrovision.

First Reserve portfolio company Mountaineer Keystone Energy LLC has named David Wood as its new CEO. Wood succeeds Rob Kozel. A former CEO and president of Murphy Oil Corp, Wood is currently the chairman of Mountaineer’s board and will remain in that role. Based in Pittsburgh, Mountaineer is an Appalachian Basin oil and gas company.

Prime Risk Partners Inc, which is backed by Thomas H. Lee Partners, has named Robert Schneider as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Schneider previously served as CFO at Ascension Insurance. Based in Atlanta, Prime Risk is a national insurance distribution platform.

LPEQ, the international association of listed private equity companies, has named Douwe Cosijn to succeed Andrea Lowe as CEO, effective January 4. Cosijn is a former director of corporate affairs and head of investor relations at 3i.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

Copart Inc said that Jeffrey Liaw has agreed to become Copart’s CFO and senior vice president of finance, effective January 4. William Franklin, currently Copart’s EVP and CFO, will continue his role as EVP responsible for U.S. operations and shared services. Liaw was previously CFO of FleetPride Inc and was a principal at TPG Capital Management LP from 2005 to 20012.

Sarasota, Florida-based Rock Creek Pharmaceuticals Inc, a drug developer focused on treating chronic inflammatory conditions, has appointed Robert Scannell to its board of directors. Scannel is the co-founder and general partner of investment firm IASO Advisors LLC.

Investment bank Rodman & Renshaw has hired Craig Kaufman and Robert Kaufman as managing directors and co-heads of TMT investment banking. Craig and Robert Kaufman are co-founders of Kaufman Bros LP. Rodman is a unit of H.C. Wainwright & Co.

PROMOTIONS & APPOINTMENTS

Flexpoint Ford LLC has promoted four investment professionals to principal: Daniel Edelman, Michael Fazekas, Steven Michienzi, and Michael Vostrizansky.

New Silk Route Growth Capital has promoted Arvind Malhan to partner. Malhan joined the Asia-focused private equity firm in 2010 as a principal.

Lionbridge Technologies Inc, which helps brands increase market share and customer engagement, has named James Quella to its board of directors. Quella is a former senior managing director at Blackstone Group.