Indicating the importance it places on the asset class, the Future Fund has appointed former local head of The Carlyle Group, David Bluff, as its new head of private equity.
Bluff (pictured) will report to deputy chief investment officer, private markets, Alicia Gregory. Gregory has been acting head of private equity since she was promoted to her current position − as one of three deputy chief investment officers − in 2021.
Gregory said: “We are delighted to appoint David to the role of head of private equity. He has deep investment experience across private markets globally and is a well-respected leader in our industry. David joins an experienced team overseeing a significant global portfolio of private equity investments.”
Bluff spent 14 years with Carlyle, most recently as head of Australia and New Zealand and a member of the US-based firm’s Asia Pacific leadership team. Prior to that he held roles as a corporate finance executive at SAB Miller and as an investment banker with J.P. Morgan. He left Carlyle in mid-2022.
Bluff said he was excited to have the opportunity to contribute to Australia’s prosperity by joining the sovereign wealth fund.
“It’s a privilege to join the Future Fund team and to participate in such a large and diverse portfolio at a time of significant change in global financial markets,” he said.
Bluff’s appointment follows the recent recruitment of another additional member of the private equity team. Sarah Azzi, formerly of Anacacia Private Equity, recently joined as a director. Azzi had been with Anacacia for more than six years and prior to that had been a member of Mercer’s private markets team covering global managers.