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PE-backed Orchid Underwriters names chief information officer

Orchid Underwriters Insurance Agency LLC, a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, has appointed Chuck Fillizola as chief information officer. Previously, he worked at Sompo Japan Nipponkoa America Insurance where he served as vice president and chief information officer. Based in Vero Beach, Florida, Orchid is a specialty underwriter of property insurance focusing on coastal properties.

HP SCF adds three to team

Private investment advisor Harvest Partners SCF LP has expanded its staff with three hires. The firm has named Steve Duke as a principal; Caldwell ZImmerman as an associate; and April Blackmon Meyer as a marketing associate. Previously, Duke worked at CCMP Capital Partners where he served as a principal. Also, Zimmerman was an associate at Arsenal Capital Partners while Meyer most recently worked at JAT Capital Management.

Hague, ex-Centerplate CEO, launches Aegis

Des Hague, Centerplate’s former CEO and president, has launched Aegis LLC, which will make investments in startups and other business opportunities. Hague resigned last year from Centerplate after a videotape showed him kicking a dog in his care. Centerplate is a portfolio company of Olympus Partners.

Friday Letter: Flying the flag for private equity

A private equity roundtable discussion in the Dutch parliament is a great opportunity for GPs to explain the value they can bring. Turning down the invite is probably a bad idea

Kaplan joins Pritzker Group Private Capital as operating partner

Pritzker Group Private Capital has appointed Gregg Kaplan as an operating partner for the services team. Kaplan is a founder and former CEO of Redbox.

Steve Cohen's family office, Point72, hires Michael Zea

Steve Cohen's family office, Point72 Asset Management, has hired Michael Zea as chief of strategy. Zea will lead Point72's exploration of new investment areas for deploying the family office's surplus capital. Prior to Point72, Zea worked as executive vice president at Aimia Inc, a data-driven marketing analytics company. Prior to Aimia, he was a partner at McKinsey & Co.

ORIX USA hires Prospect Capital exec on leveraged finance team

ORIX USA has hired Ben Harris as a director focused on business development on the leveraged finance team. Prior to ORIX USA, Harris worked at Prospect Capital and before that, worked in the sponsor finance unit of Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Arcapita's private equity group.

Blue Point Capital hires Red Ventures exec as principal

Blue Point Capital Partners has hired Brian Castleberry as a principal in the Charlotte office. He was most recently a vice president at Red Ventures. He previously worked as a vice president at Blue Point. The firm also promoted Jeff Robich and Ben Newman to vice president roles.

Fund manager gets up to 6 years in N.Y. prison for siphoning $9 mln from investors -- Reuters

A private equity fund manager was sentenced to up to six years in a New York state prison on Monday for stealing and laundering $9.3 million in investor funds, Reuters News reported.

Cross named CFO of Abila

Abila, a portfolio company of Accel-KKR, said Tuesday that Jeff Cross was named CFO. Most recently, Cross served in a consulting role with DigitalGlobe.