On the move, 3.23.15

PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS

Advent International said that Jeremy Rabe has joined as an operating partner and Livia Masnaghetti has been named an industry advisor. They will work with Advent’s global retail and business and financial services teams to identify and assess investment opportunities in the loyalty and marketing services industries worldwide. Rabe most recently served as CEO of Premier Loyalty & Marketing, while Masnaghetti was special adviser to Aeroplan on its initial public offering and spinoff from Air Canada.

Owen Sullivan has joined Baird Capital as an operating partner. He will work with Baird Capital technology and services to find new opportunities. Sullivan most recently served as president of specialty brands for Manpower Group.

Healthcare-focused private equity firm BelHealth Investment Partners has named Jonathan Spero as an associate. Prior to joining BelHealth, Spero worked at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey as an analyst in the healthcare investment banking division.

Blackstone has named Harish Manwani as a global executive adviser. Manwani is a former chief operating officer at Unilever.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has named Jillian Griffiths as chief operating officer. The appointment became effective March 4. Griffiths is a former partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice has named Ravi Sachdev as a partner. Sachdev is a former managing director for healthcare coverage and a co-head of healthcare services at J.P. Morgan.

Levine Leichtman Capital Partners has promoted Managing Director David Wolmer to general counsel and chief compliance officer, effective March 31. Wolmer will succeed Steve Hartman, who is retiring but will remain on the board of directors for certain LLCP portfolio companies. Hartman will also serve as a strategic advisor to LLCP. Prior to joining LLCP, Wolmer worked at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy.

PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

San Ramon, Calif.-based Accela, a provider of civic engagement solutions for governments, has appointed Rudy Karsan to its board of directors. Karsan is the founder of Kenexa and Karlani Capital. Besides Karlini, Accela’s backers include Bregal Sagemount, ABRY Partners, Landmark Partners, and J.P. Morgan Private Equity.

Kurt Bruenning has joined Aclara Technologies LLC as CFO and senior VP of finance, accounting, information technology and legal functions. Bruenning most recently was VP of finance and treasury at Foresight Energy LP. St. Louis-based Aclara, a provider of smart infrastructure technologies and software solutions to the utility industry, is a portfolio company of Sun Capital Partners.

Columbus Foods, a portfolio company of Arbor Investments, said that Joe Ennen was named president of the company. He will take over as CEO when current CEO Timothy Fallon retires at the end of 2015. Ennen is a former SVP in charge of Safeway’s exclusive brand portfolio. Columbus also said that Michael Fox has joined as SVP of marketing and innovation. Fox previously spent nearly a decade at PepsiCo.

Fox Head Inc, which is backed by Altamont Capital Partners, has named Paul E. Harrington as CEO and director. Harrington has been an operating partner at Altamont since 2013. Based in Irvine, Calif., Fox is a maker of motorcoss equipment and apparel.

Penhall Co, which is backed by Centerbridge Partners, announced that Jeff Long has been named CEO. Long will succeed C. George Bush, who is retiring from active leadership of the company and will transition to serving as a senior advisor. Long was most recently senior managing director at Centerbridge Partners.

Mexican restaurant chain Real Mex Restaurants has named Bryan Lockwood as CEO. Previously, Lockwood was CEO and president of Tavistock Restaurants. Real Mex is a portfolio company of Z Capital Partners LLC and Tennenbaum Capital Partners LLC.

High-speed broadband provider NTS Communications Inc, which is backed by Tower Three Partners, has named Cyrus Driver as CEO and a member of the company’s board of directors. Prior to joining NTS, Driver was a vice president at Time Warner Cable’s Business Class.

Vestis Retail Group, which was formed by Versa Capital Management, has named Susan J. Riley as chief financial officer. Riley is a former executive vice president of finance and administration at The Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. Based in Connecticut, Vestis operates several retailers, including Sport Chalet and Bob’s Stores.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

CEA Capital Advisors has named Thomas Malone as a senior managing director. Previously, Malone was a managing director at Waller Capital Partners.

Jaguar Growth Partners has hired Quyen Tran as a principal. In her new position at Jaguar, Tran will lead the firm’s fundraising and investor relations. Previously, Tran was director of marketing at Perella Weinberg Partners.

Palm Tree Advisors has hired Loran Frederic as vice president. Based in Los Angeles, Palm Tree Advisors is a private equity and M&A consulting firm.

Robertson Stephens said is has named Ronald Florance a senior strategic advisor. He will be responsible for strategic asset allocation, financial planning and investment management solutions, as well as communicating the firm’s global investment strategy to the public and the media. Florance was most recently deputy chief investment officer at Wells Fargo Private Bank.

Investment bank Sagent Advisors has appointed Joseph Donohue and Bill Kohr as co-CEOs. They succeed Hal Ritch, the company’s co-founder, who will continue as a managing director and board chairman.

Transworld Systems Inc, a provider of business process outsourcing and accounts receivable management solutions, has named Joseph Laughlin as CEO. Previously, Laughlin worked at Flexpoint Ford LLC as a senior advisor.

Wells Fargo Capital Finance has appointed Kael L. Peterson as a business development officer for the commercial services group. Peterson has been with Wells Fargo since 2006.

William Blair & Co has named James O’Connor as a managing director and global head of venture capital coverage for the firm’s investment banking group. Previously, O’Connor worked at MVC Capital. 

PROMOTIONS

Barclays Plc has named Larry Hamdan as head of mergers and acquisitions for the Americas. Hamdan has led the global industrials M&A group since joining Barclays in 2010 and will continue in that role.

BelHealth Investment Partners has promoted Nathan Kronforst to managing director.

GMT Communications Partners has promoted Natalie Tydeman to senior partner, Vikram Krishna to partner and Francois Stoessel to principal.

Ironwood Capital, which makes non-control growth investments in middle-market companies, has promoted Alex Levental to managing director, Zachary Luce to CFO, and Paul Witinksi to director.

Palm Tree Advisors has promoted Ryan Crago to vice president.

Peter J. Solomon Co has named Juan Mejia as a managing director in the firm’s Media, Entertainment, Communications and Technology Group. Mejia joined Solomon in 2009.

Vestar Capital Partners has promoted Benjamin Funk to senior associate.

Victory Park Capital has boosted its Chicago team with five promotions. Charles Asfour and Tom Affolter were promoted to partner, Robert Goldstein and Tom Welch were promoted to principal, and Geoff Mikelsons was promoted to vice president.