"A year in Private Equity" - January 2010

A year ago, I joined the FTSE100 listed global private equity firm 3i, as Managing Partner for 3i North America and Asia to help develop the company’s businesses outside of Europe. 

One of 3i’s competitive advantages is its global footprint in the middle market, with approximately 60% of the assets it manages in companies headquartered outside of the UK*.   The demographic trends towards the internationalization of business and the increasing importance of Asia to the global economy make 3i’s global network uniquely positioned to take advantage of this global growth in middle market companies. 

After 15 years with GE Capital, I knew the transition to private equity would be challenging.  However, when Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy protection on my first week in the job, I realized that the change might be even more tumultuous than I imagined...read more