Cinven Appoints Julia Kahr as Partner and Head of North America

Julia was most recently a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, which she joined in 2004, leading investments in the Healthcare and Industrials sectors. Her significant expertise in the Healthcare Private Equity market specifically includes investments in market-leading businesses within the pharma services, medical devices and life sciences sectors.

Julia joins Cinven’s U.S. team, which has been involved in a number of companies in the Healthcare and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) sectors and has also supported the U.S.-based acquisitions for several of Cinven’s European portfolio companies.  Recent Cinven investments include BioAgilytix, a global bioanalytical services business; Nitel, a technology services provider; Drake Software, a provider of software for tax preparers; National Seating & Mobility, a provider of complex rehabilitation mobility and accessibility solutions; and Jaggaer, a global provider of procurement software for large and medium-sized enterprises.

Alex Leslie, Partner, who previously moved to New York to lead Cinven’s capabilities in the region, will return to London in September 2022 and remain an integral member of Cinven’s leadership team.

Stuart McAlpine, Managing Partner at Cinven, commented:

“Julia brings a wealth of experience and knowledge, especially of the global Healthcare sector and in the U.S. private equity market.  Her investing track record coupled with her leadership experience position Julia well to build on the success of Cinven’s sector – country matrix and lead its efforts in the U.S. market.  We are delighted Julia is joining the Cinven team and partnership.

“Alex has successfully built Cinven’s presence and led Cinven’s engagement in Healthcare and TMT in the U.S., over the past six years. During that time, he has built a talented Investment team that includes expertise across Capital Markets, Portfolio operational support and Investor Relations.”

Alex Leslie, Partner at Cinven, added:                                                     

“It has been a great privilege to establish Cinven’s business in North America and build its capabilities in the region over the last six years, especially in putting together such a talented and motivated team. It is pleasing to see those efforts start to deliver results, with a number of exciting Healthcare

and TMT investments. I am delighted to welcome Julia to Cinven and am thrilled to have found such a perfect successor to take the business on and lead the team in the next stage of growth.”

Commenting on her appointment, Julia Kahr, Partner and Head of North America at Cinven, said:

“I am excited to have the opportunity to join one of the oldest and most established European private equity firms with a truly unique culture and approach and lead its North American operations.

“Cinven’s investment strategy is differentiated by its culture and its sector / country / functional matrix.  Cinven’s success is underpinned by more than 40 years’ experience of investing internationally, specifically in the Healthcare and TMT sectors. I have been enormously impressed by the culture and the calibre of the Cinven team. Alex has done an excellent job leading Cinven’s U.S. team over the last six years, and I look forward to working with him and the rest of the team in building on their success.”