Vestar Capital Partners / News
Vestar Capital Partners Announces Promotions in U.S. and Europe
NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE), Jan. 24, 2007 - Vestar Capital Partners, a leading international private equity firm, has announced the following promotions and new additions effective January 1, 2007:
* Philippe Glessinger, Executive Director, Europe;
* Michelangelo Mantero, Executive Director, Europe;
* Massimo Puccio, Executive Director, Europe;
* Erin L. Russell, Principal, USA;
* Oussama I. Takla, Executive Director, Europe;
* Kristian M. Whalen, Principal, USA;
* Garrick D. Bernstein, Vice President, USA;
* Andrew J. Cavanna, Vice President, USA;
* Aaron J. Jenkins, Vice President, USA;
* Brian P. O'Connor, Vice President, USA;
Mr. Glessinger joined Vestar's Paris office in 2003. Previously, he was a member of the M&A Group at Salomon Smith Barney in London and New York. He is a graduate of Ecole Des Hautes Etudes Commerciales du Nord in Lille. Born and raised in France, Mr. Glessinger lives in Paris.
Mr. Mantero joined Vestar's Milan office in 2002. Previously, Mr. Mantero worked for Merrill Lynch Investment Banking in New York, London and Milan. He earned a Master's Degree from Bocconi University Milan. Originally from Como, Italy, Mr. Mantero lives in Milan with his wife and two children.
Mr. Puccio joined Vestar's Milan office in 2001. Previously, Mr. Puccio was a vice president with SG Cowen's Corporate Finance Department in Milan. He has earned a Master's Degree from Bocconi University in Milan; CEMS Master, HEC, Paris. Mr. Puccio is from Milan and continues to live there with his wife and child.
Ms. Russell joined Vestar in 2001 and is a member of the firm's Healthcare Group. Previously, she was a member of the M&A Group at Paine Webber Incorporated in New York. She earned a B.A. from McIntire School of Commerce, University of Virginia and was a Loeb Scholar at Harvard Business School where she earned her M.B.A. Ms. Russell is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and currently lives with her husband and two children in Southport, Connecticut.
Mr. Takla joined Vestar's Paris office in 2001. Previously, he was with Goldman Sachs in Paris and New York. He is a graduate of Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chausees. Mr. Takla was born in Beirut and raised in France and lives in Paris with his wife and two children.
Mr. Whalen joined Vestar in 1997. He was previously with the M&A Group at Paine Webber Incorporated in New York. Kris rejoined Vestar in 2002 after spending two years earning a M.B.A. and is a member of the firm's Media and Consumer Groups. Mr. Whalen received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A., with honors, from Brown University. Mr. Whalen, originally from Toronto, Canada, currently lives in Rye, NY with his wife and two children.
Mr. Bernstein joined Vestar in 2004 and is a member of the firm's Media Group. Previously, he was an Associate at Dolphin Equity Partners, L.P., an early stage venture capital firm. Mr. Bernstein earned a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania (Magna Cum Laude). Mr. Bernstein is originally from New York City and continues to live in Manhattan.
Mr. Cavanna joined Vestar in 2006 and is a member of the firm's healthcare group. Previously, he worked at The Blackstone Group focusing on mezzanine investments. Mr. Cavanna earned his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Cornell University (Cum Laude). Mr. Cavanna is originally from Darien, Connecticut. He lives with his wife and two children in New York City.
Mr. Jenkins joined Vestar in 2004 and is Controller in Vestar's Fund Accounting Group. He was previously the Vice President of Finance at Auda Advisor Associates. Mr. Jenkins earned a B.S. from New York Institute of Technology. He is originally from Uniondale, New York. Mr. Jenkins lives with his wife and three children in Baldwin, New York.
Mr. O'Connor joined Vestar in 2000. He previously worked at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners. Brian rejoined Vestar in 2004 after earning his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and is a member of the firm's Diversified Industries Group. Additionally, Mr. O'Connor earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame (Magna Cum Laude) and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. Mr. O'Connor is originally from Miami Shores, Florida, and currently lives in New York City.
About Vestar Vestar Capital Partners is a leading international private equity firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital investments. Vestar's investment strategy is targeted towards companies in the U.S., Europe and Japan with valuations in the $100 million to $5 billion range. Since the firm's founding in 1988, Vestar has completed over 50 investments in the U.S. and Europe in companies with a total value of approximately $17 billion. These companies have varied in size and geography and span a broad range of industries. The firm's strategy is to invest behind management teams, family owners or corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way with the overriding goal to build long-term franchise value. Vestar currently manages funds totaling approximately $7 billion and has offices in New York City, Denver, Boston, Paris, Milan and Tokyo. More information about Vestar is available at http://www.vestarcapital.com.