CapLink Group

The operating partner has gone from a niche capability to a standard feature of private equity, but the role itself is changing faster than most people have adapted to it. Fredrik Bürger of EY traces how the function has evolved over two decades: from later-stage involvement to early diligence integration, from financial engineering to genuine operational transformation, and from internal resource...

After fifteen years without a true credit cycle, an uptick in defaults across private and public credit markets is neither surprising nor a signal of structural failure. It is the market functioning as it should. Natalia Tsitoura of Apollo makes a measured and confident case for why the fundamental supply and demand dynamics that created private credit remain intact, and why the firms that will de...

The best in-house tax teams in private capital are not waiting to be consulted. They are in the room before a deal is structured, translating complex legislation into decisions investment teams can actually act on. Ed Hammond of Coller Capital makes the case that the shift from compliance function to trusted business advisor is not just cultural. It requires tax professionals to understand the com...

The sustainability conversation in private markets has shifted. The external pressure that once defined the agenda has given way to something more fundamental: integrating ESG directly into how capital is deployed and how portfolio companies are built. Elsa Palanza, Global Head of Sustainability at ICG, makes the case that the most effective sustainability teams are not running parallel processes....

Portfolio operations has grown from a function that fixed struggling companies into a core driver of returns across the entire investment lifecycle. Selim Loukil of Advent traces how that shift has played out in practice. Earlier involvement during diligence, longer engagement periods that now stretch to 36 months or more, and an explicit focus on building internal capabilities so the operating pa...

The tools exist. The investment theses are written. The harder problem — the one that actually determines whether AI transformation delivers — is human. James Redmayne of Searchlight Capital makes a clear-eyed case for why change management, not technology, is the defining challenge of AI adoption in private equity and portfolio operations. In conversation with Rakhi Williams of FTI Consulting, th...

Value creation plans only work if the right people are executing them. Christian Trumpler of Partners Group makes the case that talent selection failures in private equity almost always trace back to the same root cause: a lack of clarity on what a role actually needs to deliver — before the assessment process even begins. In conversation with Hein Knaapen of CEO.works, the discussion covers psych...

Everyone in private equity is running AI pilots. Far fewer are seeing it show up on the P&L. Valerie Legat of Astorg brings a portfolio operator's perspective on why the gap between use case and real impact remains stubbornly wide — and what it actually takes to move from isolated experiments to repeatable, productised solutions across a portfolio. In conversation with Dean Hill of ECI, th...

The AI conversation in private equity has moved on. It's no longer about what's possible — it's about what's working, what's worth building, and what actually moves the needle on returns. Jesse Thomas of Advent brings a practitioner's perspective on how data science teams are being deployed inside PE firms and across portfolio companies, from deal acceleration to churn mode...

European private equity doesn't move on macro headlines — it moves on value creation at the company level. David Atterbury of HarbourVest breaks down the three forces reshaping the European mid-market: sector specialisation, digitisation, and the professionalisation of founder-led businesses. He also makes the case for why small-cap and mid-market fundraising is at record levels, even as broad...

The GP-led secondary market is expanding — but deal flow is outpacing available capital, and the best transactions are increasingly going to smaller, trusted syndicates rather than the widest possible investor base. Carlo Pirzio-Biroli of CVC unpacks why execution risk has become the central concern for high-quality GPs, and what secondary buyers are actually looking for when they evaluate a conti...

EQT has spent thirty years building a model where external expertise — through a global network of industrial advisers — sits alongside financial investment as a core value creation tool. Bettina Siempelkamp, EQT's Global Head of Network and Talent, offers a rare inside view of how that model has evolved: from advising deal teams on management assessments and CEO transitions, to building AI-li...

Integrating sustainability into private equity isn't about compliance checklists - it's about creating value through brand positioning, cost efficiency, talent strategies, and operational resilience. In this season finale conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Betty Huber, Partner and Global Co-Chair of ESG at Latham & Watkins, speaks with Devon Leahy, Global Head of Su...

Generative AI is transforming how private capital firms operate - from portfolio insights and due diligence to automating back-office functions and making institutional knowledge instantly accessible across organizations. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Jeffrey Klein, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal, speaks with Dr. Katia Walsh, AI Lead for Apollo Portfolio...

Tax strategy can make or break private equity returns - from state tax implications and interest deductibility on leveraged buyouts to optimizing capital gains treatment and planning for exits. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Nancy Mehlman, Co-Head of Tax Practice at Simpson Thacher, speaks with Laura Warren, Global Head of Tax and Structuring at Hamilton Lane, about...

In private equity, human capital is one of the most valuable assets - the right talent can identify opportunities, execute growth strategies, and directly impact portfolio company performance and returns. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Chris Gagnon, Managing Director at CEO Works, speaks with Annie Paydar, Global Head of Human Capital at General Atlantic, about how...

Understanding the macroeconomic forces shaping global markets is essential for private market investors navigating inflation, interest rates, and geopolitical uncertainty. In this closing keynote conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Mark Pepler, Partner at EY, speaks with Derek Mills, Managing Director of Value Creation at Permira, about the global economic outlook and its implic...

Navigating fund operations and formation has become increasingly complex as regulatory requirements from the Securities and Exchange Commission continue to evolve, impacting how fund managers structure, launch, and operate private markets funds. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Katie St. Peters, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis, speaks with Dipo Ashiru, General Counsel...

With record levels of dry powder in the market and economic uncertainties including inflation and rising interest rates, private equity investors face both challenges and opportunities in today's environment. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Andy Thompson, Founder and CEO of Notch Partners, speaks with Drew Schardt, Managing Director and Co-Head of Direct Equity Inves...

In an era of economic uncertainty and shifting market dynamics, understanding the macro landscape is critical for private capital investors making strategic decisions. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Carrie Osman, Founder and CEO of Cruxy, speaks with Michael Normyle, U.S. Economist at Nasdaq, about the current macroeconomic environment and what it means for investor...

The secondaries market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with 2024 seeing record transaction volumes that have surpassed all previous highs. As institutional investors seek liquidity and portfolio rebalancing solutions, the market continues to evolve with increasing sophistication. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Sijia Cai, Partner in Investment Management at Dav...

The healthcare sector presents compelling opportunities for private equity investors, driven by an aging population, increased demand for services, and rapid innovations in medical technology. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, Christopher Raphaely, Co-Chair of Healthcare & Life Sciences at Cozen O'Connor, speaks with Mark Gormley, Managing Partner at Lee Equity...

As U.S. private equity firms scale, CFOs are navigating unprecedented operational challenges—from evolving regulations and increasing LP demands to modernizing legacy systems and managing complex fund structures. In this conversation from the New York Private Capital Summit, William Andreoni, Partner and National Asset Management Consulting Leader at RSM US LLP, speaks with Thomas Mayrhofer, Chief...