People Briefs

Allan Allweiss has joined LBC Credit Partners as a managing director in charge of the firm’s new Chicago office. He previously was executive vice president of CIT Commercial and Industrial.

Bank of America announced that John Thain, CEO of Merrill Lynch, will become president of global banking, securities and wealth management when B of A completes its acquisition of Merrill next year.

Peter Baumgartner has joined Vestar Capital Partners as a Munich-based managing director of the firm’s Vestar Resources group, which provides advice and services to portfolio companies. He previously was a partner and managing director with Mercer/Oliver Wyman, where he most recently served as head of that firm’s Manufacturing, Transportation and Energy division.

Erin Bogorad has joined fund-of-funds manager RCP Advisors as an associate, with a focus on due diligence and portfolio monitoring. She previously was with Wachovia Capital Partners.

Christopher Cooke is joining Greenhill & Co. as a managing director in the firm’s fund placement group. He previously was part of the fundraising and IR team of UK hedge fund CQS, and before that was a managing director in Lehman Brothers’ fund placement group.

Anthony Cuti, former CEO of Duane Reade Holdings Inc., pled not guilty to charges of securities fraud, conspiracy and charges of making false statements to securities regulators. According to prosecutors, Cuti is accused of providing false financial information to Oak Hill Capital Partners, when the firm was taking the company private in 2004.

Paul Delaney has joined Griffin Financial Group as senior managing director and head of its private equity placement group. He previously was founder and CEO of boutique placement firm Patronus Capital Advisors, which is being merged into Griffin. Before that, Delaney founded the Bear Stearns Private Funds Group and served as a partner with Pomona Capital.

Dubai International Capital has made the following hires in its private equity group: Eric Kump as a London-based managing director, previously with Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity; David Smoot as a Dubai-based managing director, previously with Morgan Stanley Private Equity; Marc Holland as London-based financing director, previously with Investor AB; and Alykhan Nathoo as chief executive of Dubai-based DIC Emerging Markets, previously with Bain Capital in London.

Jon Edington has joined Sovereign Capital as an assistant director for the firm’s portfolio development team. He previously was with 3i Group.

Gregory Feller has agreed to join UBS as a New York-based managing director of technology investment banking. He previously was with Lehman Brothers.

Constance Jay has joined European private equity firm Argos Soditic as head of investor relations. She previously was with London-based fund placement firm Acanthus Advisors.

Michael Jenkins has joined healthcare I-bank Leerink Swann as a senior managing director and head of Leerink Swann Strategic Advisors. He previously was a partner with Trinsum.

Julian Masters and Tom Shelford have joined Bowmark Capital as a partner and investment director, respectively. Masters was previously with European Capital, while Shelford was previously with Nomura Private Equity. Bowmark is a UK-based private equity firm focused on the middle markets.

Janine McGrath Shelffo has agreed to join UBS as a managing director in its tech, media and telecom I-banking group. She previously was with Lehman Brothers, as a managing director and senior coverage banker for the media sector.

Joseph Saldutti Jr. has joined Gridiron Capital as a managing director. He previously was with TDA Capital Partners, where he managed private equity funds.

Malcolm Scovil is leaving Summit Partners, where he has spent the past three years as a senior associate in the firm’s London office. In an email, he said he would pursue his “own entrepreneurial path.”

Richard Swann has agreed to join Inflexion Private Equity as an investment director, after previously having been with rival UK mid-market buyout firm LDC.

Donald Tang, former vice chairman of Bear Stearns & Co., is leaving JPMorgan Chase & Co. in order to launch a private equity firm. The Wall Street Journal quotes a source saying that the new firm will be similar to a “merchant bank with a distribution platform.”

James Tanner has joined Investcorp as head of its placement and relationship management team. He will be based in Bahrain, and previously was with London-based Morley Fund Management (now Aviva Investors) as managing director of distribution and alternatives.

VMG Partners has promoted Kara Cissell-Roell to managing director. She helped launch the consumer-focused firm in 2005, and before that was a principal with TSG Consumer Partners.

Hiro Yoshihara, former international vice chairman of KPMG, has joined Permira as a senior advisor. He will focus on Japanese opportunities in the tech, media and telecom sectors.

Compiled by Dan Primack