New role for former Duff & Phelps MD

The former EMEA head of Duff & Phelps‘s secondaries advisory team has resurfaced after nine months of gardening leave.

Richard Olson has been appointed managing director in the valuations and opinions group of Lincoln International, a mid-market investment bank, according to a statement about his appointment seen by Secondaries Investor.

Based in London, he will lead the team’s European operations across all alternative asset classes, including secondaries, Olsen told Secondaries Investor. His first day is Monday.

“We’ve seen fairness opinions quite extensively in the GP-led space and for tail-end portfolio transactions, especially when there’s a related party transaction. Secondaries firms themselves are seeing much greater need to have independent valuations, especially those moving into different asset classes such as debt,” he said.

Chicago-headquartered Lincoln has around 500 professionals across 16 countries, the statement noted. Most of its revenues come from its merger and acquisition advisory business, with valuations counting for a small but fast-growing part.

“Along with Richard’s significant experience in alternative assets, his buy-side transaction expertise distinguishes him in the industry,” said Ron Kahn, head of the valuations and opinions group, in the statement. The bank is expanding its portfolio valuations and opinions services, Kahn added.

Olson departed Duff & Phelps after two years at the firm in the first half of last year. The team at Duff & Phelps is led by Dan Nolan, Secondaries Investor understands.