Advent International Reshapes Europe Team

Advent International has announced several senior appointments following the closing last year of its $1 billion GPE III fund and the recent launch and initial close of its new Central European Fund (story page 3).

Joanna James has succeeded Nick Callinan as managing director of Advent’s Central Europe team, while John Singer and Will Schmidt have been appointed as managing directors, Europe. Dr John Walker, formerly European managing director, becomes chairman of Advent International in Europe.

All three new managing directors are well-known and highly experienced figures in the European industry. Joanna James has been in the business for 16 years, at 3i, Kleinwort Benson and, since 1995, Advent International’s Central Europe team.

John Singer spent five years in corporate finance, moved on to McKinsey & Co as a senior consultant, then to Central & Sheerwood as finance director before being appointed managing director of Granville’s European venture capital business. A former chairman of the EVCA, he joined Advent International in 1993.

Prior to joining Advent International in 1988, Will Schmidt’s career included posts with Rhone-Poulenc, Cellier, Bayerische Vereinsbank and Bain & Co, a pedigree which led him to specialise in technology-related investment.

A fourth managing director, Steve Tadler from Advent International Corporation in Boston, has now moved to the London office, reflecting Advent International’s increased concentration on European investment in the context of its global business. Steve Tadler has gained 12 years’ private equity investment experience with Advent, and lately headed the US team responsible for all later-stage investments in North America. He also brings to the London office his considerable experience of consumer and business services and retail, both sectors where the group is active in Europe.