Mid-ranking banker leaves Evercore for big global role at a VC

A former senior associate at Evercore has left the boutique investment bank to join ZX Ventures, the venture capitalist arm of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewing company. Ilya Dembitski started as ZX Ventures’ global director of M&A earlier this month.

Launched in 2016, ZX Ventures has been extremely active, both as a VC and an incubator, investing in a number of beverage companies and e-commerce ventures. It fully acquired a popular beer rating website last month and, earlier in the year, invested in Pensa Systems, developer of a new retail inventory visibility system. The company has also made a big push to expand into China.

Dembitski should therefore be a busy man with his new gig. He spent the previous eight years of his career at Evercore in London and New York specializing in M&A. He has his master’s in finance from London School of Economics and Political Science.

Food and beverage brands suddenly appear to be a quality exit destination for former boutique bankers who want a bigger title. Earlier this month, Erik Wetter, a former principal at boutique investment bank Centerview Partners, started at U.S. foods brand Kraft Heinz as head of global financial and strategic planning. He had just been promoted from associate three months prior to leaving. 

ZX Ventures didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on the hire.  

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