Robert Rivett, former co-head of Credit Suisse’s Private Fund Group, and Stephen Gray, previously a private equity-focussed managing director at Henniker River Advisors, have joined global placement agent Helix Associates.
The two will help the placement agent division of Jefferies Investment Bank expand its North American presence. Rivett will be based in San Francisco and focus on establishing the firm’s West Coast presence as well as coordinating efforts between the firm’s US and UK arms, while Gray will join the firm’s New York team of three managing directors.
“Helix continues to gain traction in the North American market, particularly the middle market buyout sector,” Mark Hallock, head of the firm's US team, said in a statement. “The addition of Bob and Steve will significantly broaden our presence in the US. Steve’s extensive private equity experience and relationships in the US and UK as a general partner and placement agent, as well as Bob’s expertise, acumen and established profile in the private equity community, further strengthen the Helix offering in North America.”
Gray has 22 years of financial experience in the US and UK, most recently as a private equity-focussed managing director at corporate advisory firm Henniker River Advisors. Previously, he was a North American-based partner at Gateway Global Partners Limited, which advised Cambridge Gateway Fund, a technology-focused venture capital fund which he also helped found, before which he was head of private equity at Salomon Smith Barney.
Rivett has more than two decades of experience in equity fundraising, most recently as co-head of the Private Fund Group of Credit Suisse. Before, he was a founding partner and co-head of the Private Fund Group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. Prior to DFJ Rivett spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch.
The 14-year-old Helix Associates was purchased by Jefferies two years ago, and has since raised more than $12 billion for 11 funds. Roughly 40 percent of the capital the firm has raised in the past five years was from North American investors.
