Brenke joins Berment as Ardian co-head

Ardian Private Debt, the private debt arm of Paris-based investment firm Ardian, has appointed Mark Brenke as co-head.

The unit was previously headed by 13-year Ardian veteran Olivier Berment, who now becomes a co-head with Brenke.

Brenke has 20 years’ experience of European private capital investment in both private debt and private equity. He joined Ardian two years ago as managing director, having previously had responsibility for establishing the European direct lending business at Intermediate Capital Group (ICG).

Ardian Private Debt, which operates out of London, Paris and Frankfurt, has 17 people. In September last year, it closed its third generation fund on €2 billion; the fund is now 50 percent committed.

Recent investments completed by the firm have included UK commercial laundry and catering equipment rental business JLA, UK technology infrastructure provider 6 Degrees, and German HR software solutions firm P&I.

“We have seen strong growth in the demand for private debt funds and, as a company, we will always grow to meet the evolving needs of our investors,” said Vincent Gombault, member of the executive committee and head of Ardian Funds of Funds and Private Debt.

“Mark is an experienced operator and will help to continue building our offering,” he added.

Founded in 1996 and led by Dominique Senequier, Ardian has assets of $60 billion managed or advised in Europe, North America and Asia. As well as private debt, it operates across funds of funds, North American direct buyouts, direct funds, real estate and its customised mandate solutions business known as Ardian Mandates.