KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 20): Former executive director and head of investments of Khazanah Nasional Bhd Datuk Ganen Sarvananthan has been appointed as the managing partner of US-based asset management firm TPG to head its business in Asia and the Middle East.

In a statement on Wednesday, the firm said Ganen’s appointment follows significant growth of TPG’s business in Asia across all investing strategies, and reflects its commitment to establishing a dedicated presence in the Middle East, a growing region and area of investment for the firm.

Ganen will continue to support TPG’s existing businesses and expansion across Asia, and will additionally focus on the firm’s strategic partnerships and growth in the Middle East.

He will continue as a co-managing partner of TPG Capital Asia, the firm’s Asia-dedicated late-stage private equity business.

Ganen joined TPG in 2014 as a partner, and has since held several leadership roles within the firm’s Asia business, most recently as a co-managing partner of TPG Capital Asia and a co-head of Southeast Asia. Ganen has also been a member of TPG’s board of directors since its inception.

Prior to joining TPG, Ganen at Khazanah was responsible for investment and divestment activities, and the restructuring and reorganisation activities of selected investee companies of the sovereign fund.

Ganen joined Khazanah in 2004 from UBS Investment Bank, Hong Kong, where he was the director of equity capital markets, having previously served UBS’ investment banking/corporate finance departments in London and Singapore.

Ganen is a barrister-at-law (Lincoln’s Inn, London), having graduated with LLB (Hons) from University College London. He was a recipient of the British Chevening, HRH Sultan Azlan Shah and Asean scholarships.