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Stephan Illenberger, the managing director responsible for Germany, has been appointed to the global executive committee at AXA Private Equity. The committee is already composed of Dominique Senequier, chief executive; Dominique Gaillard, managing director, direct funds; and Vincent Gombault, managing director, funds of funds. Illenberger will play a substantial role in shaping the global strategy of AXA Private Equity. The firm is planning to further expand its business in Germany, which is seen as one of the key markets besides France.

Before joining AXA in 2001, Illenberger was co-owner of Doertenbach & Co, an independent management company, for four years. Prior to that, he was head of corporate finance at NatWest Markets in Germany.

• Christiaan van der Kam and Soren Brondum Andersen have been appointed as vice-presidents at Copenhagen-based funds of funds manager, ATP Private Equity Partners. Kam joined in February 2002 and Andersen joined in September 2004. The team consists of 11 investment professionals in five countries. Last year, ATP made investments of €325m and expects to make commitments and co-investments of between €400m and €500m this year.
• CSFB is expanding its leveraged investments franchise to include the European high-yield and leveraged loan markets. The Leveraged Investments Group (LIG) has established a platform in London to manage diversified portfolios of leveraged loans, mezzanine debt, and high-yield bonds. John Popp, managing director and global head of LIG, said the franchise was expanded in regions that offered market opportunities. Glenn Clarke joined CSFB from AIB Capital Markets on April 21 to spearhead the move. He reports to Popp.

The firm also hired Mathew Cestar from Goldman Sachs to beef up its London-based high-yield team, according to market sources. Cestar, who was VP capital markets at Goldman for around 18 months, will join CSFB as managing director working alongside Jim Amine, managing director, head of leveraged finance. Cestar is believed to be replacing Steven Seltzer, managing director, head of European high-yield capital markets, who left CSFB to join Morgan Stanley in March 2004.

• Almeida Capital, the private equity placement and consulting firm, has appointed Delaney Brown and Stephen Hunt to the position of associate director. Delaney has been with Almeida Capital for four years and will be responsible for project managing placement engagements, leading due diligence on GPs and conducting research on limited partners. Hunt has also been with Almeida Capital for four years and is responsible for its online research service and proprietary information systems.
• Andrew Garside has joined ISIS Equity Partners, the private equity arm of F&C Asset Management. He previously spent 14 years at 3i.