JC Flowers loses IR chief

Jordan Robinson, investor relations chief at JC Flowers & Company, is leaving the firm to take on the lead IR role at New Jersey-based Energy Capital Partners, according to several market sources with knowledge of the plans.

Robinson, who joined Flowers in 2010 as a managing director and head of business development, also spent time as a managing director at Pomona Capital. He worked for 10 years as vice president in global private equity at American International Group.

Christopher Flowers, head of JCF & Company, confirmed Robinson’s departure, which will take place at the end of May. The new role will be closer to Robinson’s home in Pennsylvania, Flowers said in an email Monday. The firm has initiated a search for a new IR head and is evaluating candidates, he said.

Jordan Robinson

“Jordan has been a valued member of our team and we wish him the very best in his new endeavor,” Flowers said.

JC Flowers has struggled in recent years. Its second fund, which closed on $7 billion in 2006, was generating a negative 23.97 percent internal rate of return and a .3x multiple as of 30 September, 2012, according to documents from the Montana Board of Investments.

Flowers closed its third fund on about $2.3 billion in 2009; it’s unclear if and when the firm will come back to market with another investment vehicle.

Robinson and Energy Capital Partners did not return requests for comment.

Energy Capital Partners has enjoyed a strong run of fundraising in recent years. In February, the firm closed its debut mezzanine fund on $805 million, well above its $500 million target.  The firm closed its second fund, Energy Capital Partners II, in 2010 on $4.33 billion, beating its $3.5 billion target. The fund primarily invests in assets in the fossil and renewable power generation, electric transmission and midstream gas sectors.