Northleaf Capital Partners has hired Chris O’Connor as managing director, business development, Australia and New Zealand. In this new role, Chris will lead Northleaf’s business development and investor relations activities and further develop relationships with institutional investors, consultants and advisors in the region. Chris joins Northleaf’s existing Melbourne-based investment team, extending the firm’s ongoing commitment to private markets activities in Australia and New Zealand.
“We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the Northleaf team as our first Australia-based business development executive,” said Jeff Pentland, managing director and Head of Business Development at Northleaf. “Chris brings expertise in both relationship building and consultative fundraising, enhancing our capabilities to provide investors with access to highly differentiated mid-market infrastructure, private equity and private credit investments globally.”
Prior to joining Northleaf, O’Connor was managing director, business development at Queensland Investment Corp. where he managed client and prospect relationships with institutional investors and asset consultants, covering the fund’s alternative asset class offerings.
“I am excited to continue to develop Northleaf’s presence in Australia, and to execute the firm’s focused client servicing strategy,” said O’Connor. “This is a unique opportunity to join a leading institutional asset manager with a compelling growth strategy and to enhance Northleaf’s position worldwide.”
Northleaf recently announced the final closing for its third OECD-focused infrastructure fund at US$1.4 billion, exceeding its original target fund size.