Gulf sovereign wealth funds’ push for private equity professionals

If you’re a private equity professional looking for work in the Middle East, you’d be wise to apply to one of the large regional sovereign wealth funds.

We’ve mentioned previously that SWFs were looking to hire investment bankers and private equity professionals as they look to structure their own investments, rather than buy into external funds.

A new recruitment drive by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) illustrates this trend. It’s currently scouring the London and European market for up to 40 private equity professionals in a bid to bolster its team, according to Bloomberg.

ADIA has also hired Christophe Florin, currently chief operating officer of Axa Private Equity, to head its emerging markets private equity team, it suggests.

It’s not unusual for Middle East sovereign wealth funds to target specialist experience in Western markets for more senior roles, while also bringing local talent in through their graduate recruitment schemes.  As we revealed last year, the Qatar Investment Authority was looking to New York and London for up to 100 new positions.