Private equity firms

The African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association has appointed Dorothy Kelso as director and head of strategy and research. Kelso, a Ghanaian native, joins AVCA with 15 years of research, strategy and private equity experience gained at organizations including EY, Coller Capital, IE Consulting, the International Monetary Fund and Incisive Media.

Arsenal Capital Partners has hired Grace Rhee Kim as a principal in investor relations. Previously, Kim worked at Providence Equity Partners, where she was a principal of business development.

Avista Capital Partners has appointed Graham Whaling as an industry executive focused on energy investments. Whaling was previously CEO of Parkman Whaling, an oil and gas investment banking advisory firm that he co-founded in 2007.

The Blackstone Group’s Strategic Partners Fund Solutions has appointed Mark Burton to lead its real estate secondaries practice. Burton will serve as principal and oversee Strategic Partners’ real estate secondary investment activities. Burton joins Strategic Partners from H/2 Capital Partners, a commercial real estate credit manager, where he was a managing director focused on distressed commercial mortgage opportunities.

Cotton Creek Capital, a Texas-based lower mid-market buyout firm, has appointed Alan Goldstein as an associate in its Austin office. Goldstein previously was an investment banking analyst at Jefferies Group in New York, specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Canadian private equity firm Onex said that Nigel Wright has rejoined the firm. He will join the London team as a managing director. In 2010, Wright took a leave of absence to work as chief of staff for the office of the prime minister of Canada.

Dallas-based buyout shop Teakwood Capital has hired Bob Mosteller as managing director of finance and chief financial officer. Mosteller joins the firm from Silver Creek Ventures, where he worked as CFO and chief operating officer. At Teakwood, he will oversee financial activities and aid portfolio companies with financial and operational needs.

Scott Lemone has joined TriArtisan Capital Partners, the merchant banking arm of Morgan Joseph TriArtisan. Most recently, Lemone was head of the retailing group for SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.