Private Equity Professionals

3i hires VSS executive for IR

The listed firm has brought on VSS’ James Rutherfurd to flesh out its North American investor relations team.

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3i has hired former Veronis Suhler Stevenson executive James Rutherfurd as a partner for investor relations in North America. 3i’s North America team is focused on growth capital and infrastructure investments.

Jack Hartfelder has been promoted to replace Rutherfurd as head of investor relations. Hartfelder previously served as a vice president at VSS, responsible for fundraising and LP communications related to VSS’s Structured Capital II, a $300 million fund which closed in 2009.

Rutherfurd will be based in 3i’s New York office and will focus on developing 3i’s new and existing institutional investor base, working alongside the New York-based growth capital team. Growth capital typically invests up to $250 million per deal, in businesses with enterprise values ranging from $150 million to $1.5 billion.

3i recently closed its first fund dedicated to growth capital investments with money raised from external investors, as well as capital from its own balance sheet. The fund totals €1.2 billion, with €400 million coming from investors in Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

Rutherfurd previously served as executive vice president at Veronis Suhler Stevenson, where he was responsible for fundraising, investor relations, marketing and public relations. Between 2004 and 2009, Rutherfurd managed VSS funds’ co-investment program. He also served as head of the VSS investment banking group, focusing on M&A advisory services and the origination of investment opportunities for the VSS private equity and mezzanine funds.

Prior to his stint at VSS, Rutherfurd served as managing director of the M&A group at JP Morgan & Co. and also co-head of the media industry investment banking team.  Previously he was director at The First Boston Corporation’s media group before which he was a corporate and securities lawyer at New York law firm Rogers & Wells.

Separately, Jennifer Dunstan has transferred from 3i’s buyouts team as partner to lead 3i’s London-based fund IR team and develop 3i’s IR capabilities in Europe and Asia Pacific. Dunstan is based in London.