Global alternative asset manager The Carlyle Group has announced that David Bluff has been promoted to managing director and head of its buyout team in Australia and New Zealand. He was previously a director with the team and will continue to be based in Sydney.

 

Bluff joined Carlyle in 2008 and has 15 years of experience in private equity and corporate finance in Australia, Europe and the U.S. Since joining Carlyle, he has played a prominent role in several notable transactions, including Healthscope, Qube Holdings and Coates Hire.

 

X.D. Yang, managing director and co-head of the Carlyle Asia buyout team, said, “David is a proven leader with significant global expertise in private equity and corporate mergers and acquisitions as well as a deep understanding of the Australian and New Zealand markets. This is a well-deserved promotion for David who has contributed greatly to the success of our business in Australia.  Australasia is an important market for Carlyle and we expect to increase our rate of investment going forward. In his role as managing director, David will lead the team in Australia to further expand our activities in this region.”

 

Bluff said, “I am excited to lead Carlyle’s buyout team’s efforts in Australia and New Zealand. Carlyle has had a presence in Australia for more than a decade and we continue to see great companies with attractive growth prospects and compelling investment opportunities. We look forward to continuing to leverage Carlyle’s extensive global industry expertise and presence to partner with local companies and management teams to grow their business in Australasia, Asia and globally.”

 

Prior to joining Carlyle, Bluff worked with SABMiller where he was responsible for acquisitions in Europe and the Americas, and J.P. Morgan's M&A teams in both Australia and the UK. Bluff graduated with a first class honors in commerce and law from the University of Queensland.

 

The Carlyle Asia buyout team has a strong track record of advising on control and significant minority investments in well established companies across the Asia Pacific ex-Japan region.