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PE-backed Smile Brands appoints Rogus as M&A VP

Smile Brands, which is backed by Gryphon Investors, has named Kevin Rogus as vice president of M&A. Previously, Rogus was the M&A head and chief operating officer for Family Care Partners. Smile Brands is a provider of business support services to dental groups.

McGuireWoods adds new partner to private equity team

Law firm McGuireWoods is expanding its private equity team with the addition of Stuart Rasley as a partner. Previously, Rasley worked at Squire Patton Boggs.

Private Equity Jobs of the Week: Z Capital, Macquarie and PNC Riverarch are hiring

This week's jobs include a private equity operating director at Z Capital, a business development officer at PNC Riverarch and associate spots at Macquarie and Hull Street.

Arma Partners hires one as partner and another as MD

Arma Partners, an M&A adviser focused on the communications, media and technology sector, has appointed Jeremie Sokolowsky as partner and Bruno Nehmé as managing director. Previously, Sokolowsky was managing director and head of European media at Goldman Sachs while Nehmé worked at JPMorgan, where he led the strategic investments European team.

PE-backed Openforce hires CEO

Phoenix, Arizona-based Openforce, which provides a platform for onboarding, settlement and risk management solutions for the transportation and on-demand economy, has named Ryan Kelly as CEO. Previously, Kelly was president of LawLogix. Openforce is a portfolio company of Riverside Partners.

Black Dragon adds three media tech execs to advisory board

Black Dragon Capital has named Mohamed Abuagla, Sandy Nasseri and Spencer Stephens to its advisory board. Abuagla recently served as chief information and technology officer and executive director of technology and operations for Al Jazeera Media Network while Nasseri is president and co-founder of MelroseINC. And, Stephens operates Tech X Media.

Tikehau recruits Laillier as private equity head

Tikehau Capital has appointed Emmanuel Laillier as head of private equity. He begins his role on September 5, 2018. Since 2011, he has been a managing director at Eurazeo PME.

KKR taps Knottenbelt for its PE team

KKR has named Daan Knottenbelt to its private equity team. In his new role, Knottenbelt will lead the firm's financial services coverage in EMEA. He will also lead coverage of the Benelux region. Previously, he worked at Palamon Capital Partners where he was a partner and member of the firm's operating committee.

Kido joins KKR

KKR said Sept. 4 that Kazuyuki Kido was named a managing director based in Tokyo, effective immediately. Kido most recently spent about 20 years at Nikko Securities – now known as SMBC Nikko Securities – and Nikko Principal Investments Inc.

Evercore hires senior managing director for Frankfurt advisory practice

Evercore has appointed Eduard Kostadinov as a senior managing director in its advisory practice based in Frankfurt. Previously, he was a managing director at Morgan Stanley, where he was co-head general industrials EMEA with a particular focus on the automotive industry.