The new hire, who has 15 years' experience of covering emerging and developed markets, has a sharp understanding of the Asian private equity space.

BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPP AM) has appointed Jeff French as head of investor relations, private assets Asia-Pacific. The appointment is effective immediately.

Based in Singapore, French, who reports to Mike Nikou, BNPP AM Asia Pacific chief executive officer, will be responsible for driving private asset growth, managing client relationships together with the region’s sales teams, and working with the private asset teams.

French was previously at OMERS Private Equity where he was managing director and Asia head, responsible for leading the company’s investment activities in Asia Pacific, including deal sourcing, execution and portfolio management. Prior to that, he served in senior roles at Blackstone's corporate private equity group in Singapore, as well as Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse’s investment banking groups, advising clients on M&A and other capital market transactions in New York and Singapore.

French holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

“Jeff brings extensive expertise and acute understanding of the Asian private equity space and a proven track record to his new role,” Nikou said. “Armed with over 15 years of experience covering both emerging and developed markets, he possesses a wealth of execution experience in general partner and limited partner roles, having invested across a broad range of industries and transaction types, and also in the capacity as a capital allocator.”