EVCA names LP as chairman elect

At a time of significant private equity rulemaking, the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association has announced a raft of senior appointments.

It’s all change at Europe’s private equity trade body. Just over a month after it elected TPG partner emeritus Vincenzo Morelli to be its new chairman, the European Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (EVCA) has appointed a quartet of experienced industry figures to four more senior positions.

Chief among the new appointees is HarbourVest managing director George Anson, announced by EVCA’s board of directors as its new chairman elect. He will replace Morelli next year after his one year tenure comes to an end.

The change in guard comes at a time when the EU’s Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive enters follow-up rulemaking to core provisions agreed two years ago. The EVCA has been one of the industry’s biggest voices in explaining the buyout model to regulators who are responsible for creating a pan-EU marketing regime for alternative asset managers. Moreover last month Morelli told PE Manager the industry must improve its public image or suffer misaligned regulation.

Joey Mason of Delta Partners has been appointed as the trade body’s treasurer, it added, while two appointments have been made to its tax and legal committee:  SJ Berwin’s Simon Witney as chairman, and Patricia Volhard of P&P Pöllath & Partners as vice-chairwoman.

For the first time an investor will become chairman of the EVCA at a time when Europe will be going through a secular shift

George Anson, HarbourVest Partners

Anson has sat on EVCA’s LP Platform Council since its inception, and was an inaugural member of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association’s limited partner committee.

“Over the past few years, the EVCA has become one of the leading proponents and trade associations for the private equity and venture capital industry in Europe; not only for managers but for investors as well,” said Anson, speaking exclusively to sister title Private Equity International.

“As evidence of that, for the first time an investor will become chairman of the EVCA at a time when Europe will be going through a secular shift in not only how it profitably invests, but also sources capital for new investment. After more than 25 years in the European private equity business, I was honoured to be asked to be the Chairman of the association, commencing in June 2013.

“HarbourVest Partners was an inaugural member of the EVCA, and has 25 managing directors globally, and taking a leadership role is consistent with our group ethos. Finally, as a fund of funds we have a unique perspective of being both a fund manager as well as an investor. This should enable me to effectively represent the EVCA membership across all disciplines,” he added.