Vestar Capital Partners, a leading international private equity
firm, has announced the following promotions and new additions
effective January 1, 2007:
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Philippe Glessinger, Executive Director, Europe;
Michelangelo Mantero, Executive Director, Europe;
Massimo Puccio, Executive Director, Europe;
Erin L. Russell, Principal, USA;
Oussama I. Takla, Executive Director, Europe;
Kristian M. Whalen, Principal, USA;
Garrick D. Bernstein, Vice President, USA;
Andrew J. Cavanna, Vice President, USA;
Aaron J. Jenkins, Vice President, USA;
Brian P. O'Connor, Vice President, USA;
Takuro Ueji, Vice President, Japan;
Teppei Kawai, Associate, Japan
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Mr. Glessinger joined Vestar's Paris office in 2003. Previously,
he was a member of the M&A Group at Salomon Smith Barney in London and
New York. He is a graduate of Ecole Des Hautes Etudes Commerciales du
Nord in Lille. Born and raised in France, Mr. Glessinger lives in
Paris.
Mr. Mantero joined Vestar's Milan office in 2002. Previously, Mr.
Mantero worked for Merrill Lynch Investment Banking in New York,
London and Milan. He earned a Master's Degree from Bocconi University,
Milan. Originally from Como, Italy, Mr. Mantero lives in Milan with
his wife and two children.
Mr. Puccio joined Vestar's Milan office in 2001. Previously, Mr.
Puccio was a vice president with SG Cowen's Corporate Finance
Department in Milan. He has earned a Master's Degree from Bocconi
University in Milan; CEMS Master, HEC, Paris. Mr. Puccio is from Milan
and continues to live there with his wife and child.
Ms. Russell joined Vestar in 2001 and is a member of the firm's
Healthcare Group. Previously, she was a member of the M&A Group at
PaineWebber Incorporated in New York. She earned a B.A. from McIntire
School of Commerce, University of Virginia and was a Loeb Scholar at
Harvard Business School where she earned her M.B.A. Ms. Russell is
originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and currently lives with her
husband and two children in Southport, Connecticut.
Mr. Takla joined Vestar's Paris office in 2001. Previously, he was
with Goldman Sachs in Paris and New York. He is a graduate of Ecole
Nationale des Ponts et Chausees. Mr. Takla was born in Beirut and
raised in France and lives in Paris with his wife and two children.
Mr. Whalen joined Vestar in 1997. He was previously with the M&A
Group at PaineWebber Incorporated in New York. Kris rejoined Vestar in
2002 after spending two years earning a M.B.A. and is a member of the
firm's Media and Consumer Groups. Mr. Whalen received his M.B.A. from
Harvard Business School and a B.A., with honors, from Brown
University. Mr. Whalen, originally from Toronto, Canada, currently
lives in Rye, NY with his wife and two children.
Mr. Bernstein joined Vestar in 2004 and is a member of the firm's
Media Group. Previously, he was an Associate at Dolphin Equity
Partners, L.P., an early stage venture capital firm. Mr. Bernstein
earned a B.A. from University of Pennsylvania (Magna Cum Laude). Mr.
Bernstein is originally from New York City and continues to live in
Manhattan.
Mr. Cavanna joined Vestar in 2006 and is a member of the firm's
healthcare group. Previously, he worked at The Blackstone Group
focusing on mezzanine investments. Mr. Cavanna earned his M.B.A. from
Columbia Business School and a B.A. from Cornell University (Cum
Laude). Mr. Cavanna is originally from Darien, Connecticut. He lives
with his wife and two children in New York City.
Mr. Jenkins joined Vestar in 2004 and is Controller in Vestar's
Fund Accounting Group. He was previously the Vice President of Finance
at Auda Advisor Associates. Mr. Jenkins earned a B.S. from New York
Institute of Technology. He is originally from Uniondale, New York.
Mr. Jenkins lives with his wife and three children in Baldwin, New
York.
Mr. O'Connor joined Vestar in 2000. He previously worked at DLJ
Merchant Banking Partners. Brian rejoined Vestar in 2004 after earning
his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and is a member of the firm's
Diversified Industries Group. Additionally, Mr. O'Connor earned a B.A.
from the University of Notre Dame (Magna Cum Laude) and is a Chartered
Financial Analyst. Mr. O'Connor is originally from Miami Shores,
Florida, and currently lives in New York City.
Mr. Takuro Ueji joins Vestar Japan as Vice President from The
Boston Consulting Group where he had been a consultant since 2003.
Prior to joining BCG, Mr. Ueji received a Fulbright Scholarship to
attend the Wharton School & Lauder Institute where he received his
M.B.A. and a M.A. in International Relations and East Asian Studies.
Prior to business school, Mr. Ueji was a Senior Associate at Tokyo
Mitsubishi UFJ Bank for seven years. Mr. Ueji attended Tokyo
University and currently resides in Tokyo.
Mr. Teppei Kawai joins Vestar Japan as Associate. Previously he
worked at Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Bank where he had been an Associate
since 2004. Mr. Kawai has a B.S. in Engineering from Tohoku University
and earned his M.B.A. at California State University, Hayward. Mr.
Kawai currently lives in Tokyo.
About Vestar
Vestar Capital Partners is a leading international private equity
firm specializing in management buyouts and growth capital
investments. Vestar's investment strategy is targeted towards
companies in the U.S., Europe and Japan with valuations in the $100
million to $5 billion range. Since the firm's founding in 1988, Vestar
has completed over 50 investments in the U.S. and Europe in companies
with a total value of approximately $17 billion. These companies have
varied in size and geography and span a broad range of industries. The
firm's strategy is to invest behind management teams, family owners or
corporations in a creative, flexible and entrepreneurial way with the
overriding goal to build long-term franchise value. Vestar currently
manages funds totaling approximately $7 billion and has offices in New
York City, Denver, Boston, Paris, Milan and Tokyo. More information
about Vestar is available at http://www.vestarcapital.com.
