Former managing director at Pacific Equity Partners Rob Koczkar has accepted the role of chief executive at not-for-profit investment firm Social Ventures Australia, effective from October 2014, according to a statement.
Koczkar replaces Michael Traill, who will take up the role of executive director, having generated more than $45 million of investment into the social sector and worked with more than 88 social ventures during his time in the role.
SVA is a social impact investment firm that provides opportunities for investors, including the government, foundations, high net-worth individuals, philanthropists and socially conscious institutions, who want both a social and financial return on their investment.
Koczkar left Australian private equity firm PEP about a year ago to pursue a career in the non-profit sector. He joined the firm, Australia’s largest GP, at its inception in 2004 as managing director. Prior to that, Koczkar had been a principal at TPG in London focused on the global buyout fund’s European portfolio.
“This is a decision I’ve made based on my desire to make a greater contribution to building a fairer Australia. My involvement with SVA over the past few years has instilled in me a great respect for and confidence in the organisation, and reinforced my passion for finding innovative approaches to social challenges,” Koczkar said in a statement.
PEP is raising a $2 billion Australia fund, which will have a $1 billion co-investment tranche for investors, Private Equity International reported earlier. The firm also returned about A$550 million (€383 million; $516 million) back to its LPs last year over three refinancings and three dividend recapitalisations.