Exclusive: ILPA close to finding new chief

The Institutional Limited Partner Association (ILPA) is set to vote on Sarah Alexander, the former head of the Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA), to become its next executive director, pfm has learned.

The LP trade body has been searching since mid-December for a successor to current ILPA head Kathy Jeramaz-Larson, who will vacate her post as of June 30. 

It is unclear what other top candidates ILPA is considering, if any. ILPA was not able to immediately return a request for comment.

Alexander served as EMPEA’s chief executive since inception in 2004 before stepping down in 2013 to become a managing director with Dubai-based Abraaj Group. It is understood Alexander was hired to develop the emerging market investor’s relationships in North America, including with LPs.

Alexander left Abraaj earlier this year, saying in an email to her colleagues that she had “personally fulfilled the goals” she set out for herself before joining the firm.

In the time since, she has been “working on a number of consulting projects and continuing to actively engage in several nonprofit board and advisory roles,” according to an Abraaj spokesperson. Alexander was a speaker at the 2014 Women’s Private Equity Summit, of which Abraaj was a sponsor, and holds a seat on the board of directors at Women Thrive Worldwide, a non-profit advocacy group, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Alexander, a private equity LP herself before joining EMPEA, is credited with growing EMPEA membership to more than 300 member firms (representing nearly 60 countries) during her time at the helm, and could serve as a conduit for ILPA to further expand its historically Western membership base to the increasingly important emerging markets.