Quilvest hires former 3i operating partner

Quilvest Private Equity, the private equity arm of the Quilvest Group, has appointed a senior advisor, according to a statement.

The group has added Michel Maupu, who will work from London and Paris offices, to its team. Prior to becoming an independent consultant in 2012, Maupu was a former operating partner and senior advisor at 3i Group.

Maupu has an international network and experience in the agri-food, chemicals, equipment and consumer goods sectors. From 2001 to 2007, Maupu was president, chief executive officer and a shareholder of Atys, a former division of Pernod Ricard. He led the management buyout of Atys alongside Butler Capital Partners in 2001 and was eventually involved in the sale of the company to Austrian sugar group Agrana, in 2007.

He began his career at the Rhône Poulenc Group, where he held several senior executive positions in France, the UK, Brazil, the USA and in Asia, including serving as president and chief executive officer of the Agrochemicals Division for the years and as vice president of the Fibres and Polymers Division for five years.

His experience and knowledge of the industry, combined with the capabilities of our international teams in Paris, London, New York and in emerging markets offer Quilvest Private Equity promising investment prospects”, Guy Zarzavatdjian, chief executive officer of Quilvest Private Equity, said in the statement.

The appointment comes after Quilvest had changed chief executive within the last year. Last June, Michel Abouchalache left Quilvest to start his own company. He was succeeded by Guy Zarzavatdjian, a former managing partner at 3i's growth capital business, who joined Quilvest Private Equity on 1 July 2014.

Quilvest Private Equity was originally established as the wealth management office of the Bembergs, the German/Argentinian family behind the Quilmes beer brand. The firm has been investing in private equity since 1972.