Actis to build out comms and IR teams

Emerging markets giant Actis has made a series of changes to its communications and investor relations team, including hires of an investor relations director and a director of corporate communications.

The appointments follow the closing of Actis’ $2.9 billion Emerging Markets 3 Fund in December 2008 – its largest ever vehicle.

Adam Turtle, who has spent seven years in Credit Suisse’s private funds group – latterly as a vice president, joins the firm as director, investor relations and project management. In this newly created position, Turtle will manage a seven-strong IR team and report to Actis partner Jonathan Bond, who has been responsible for the firm’s fundraising efforts since before it demerged from CDC Group in 2004. His immediate focus will be communication with the 100 existing institutional investors in Actis’ latest vehicle.

Actis has also revamped its external communications function with the hire of Tashi Lassalle as director of communications. Lassalle, formerly chief marketing officer for listed recruitment company Heidrick & Struggles, has replaced Actis’ incumbent external public relations agency and is mandated to build a permanent communications team to “leverage the Actis brand”, said Paul Fletcher, senior partner at Actis, in an emailed statement.

Last month Actis hired a head of West Africa, Ngozi Edozien. The firm invests across the emerging markets of Asia, Africa and Latin America.