LPEQ founder steps down

LPEQ, the international association of listed private equity companies, appointed Douwe Cosijn as its new chief executive officer effective 4 January 2016.

Cosijn will succeed Andrea Lowe, who founded LPEQ in 2006 alongside Ian Armitage, the former CEO of HgCapital.

“I am grateful for the support I have received over the past ten years in raising awareness and understanding of listed private equity, and in building LPEQ into a valued resource for investors considering an allocation to the asset class,” Lowe said in a statement.

Cosijn began his career in Brussels, specializing in EU financial services regulation, advising Chinese, EU and US government and regulatory bodies on developments in private equity and financial services. He joined London-listed 3i Group in 1998, and was most recently director of corporate affairs and head of investor relations from 2005 to 2012.

In 2012, Cosijn established a communications advisory business working with governments, sovereign wealth funds and multi-national corporations in relation to the investment and disposal of strategic assets.

In a statement, Cosijn said LPEQ’s mission “is particularly exciting given that alternative asset classes are becoming increasingly mainstream, and that private equity can be part, not only of alternative allocations, but broader investment strategies in the public markets.”

In July, LPEQ appointed Graphite Capital’s finance director Tim Spence as its new non-executive chairman for a two-year term, succeeding senior Pantheon Ventures partner Andrew Lebus.

“[Cosijn] brings significant relevant experience, having worked for a leading listed private equity firm for many years,” Spence said in a statement. “Additionally, his expertise ranges across corporate, financial and government relations – all aspects our members are engaged in with their key shareholders.”