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OTPP names senior MD for global operations

Jo Taylor has been appointed as the senior managing director, international, for the $129bn Canadian pension fund, in what is a newly created leadership role.

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The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) has promoted Jo Taylor, current managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, to role of senior managing director, international, according to a statement.

In this newly-created role, which he will assume on 1 January 2017, Taylor will lead OTPP’s investments in London and Hong Kong and continue to report to the chief investment officer Bjarne Graven Larsen.

He will be an active member of the respective asset class underwriting committees for investments being considered in all regions by the pension, which this year tapped the secondaries market to sell a portfolio of private equity stakes worth around $1 billion to Ardian.

Taylor will also be the interim head of Asia-Pacific at OTPP, with current regional MD for Asia-Pacific Nicole Musicco returning to Toronto on 1 January 2017 to head the OTPP’s public equities unit. She replaces Wayne Kozun who has decided to leave the company this year after more than 20 years of service.

Taylor will split his time between London and Hong Kong until the position is filled.

“Jo is uniquely qualified for this role,” said Larsen. “He has an innate understanding of relationship building and the global nature of today’s investment environment. He has earned the respect of our partners around the world by delivering value, and is committed to building our global strategy and presence.”

Taylor is involved in several OTPP portfolio companies  including the UK’s National Lottery operator Camelot, gas distribution company SGN, and Norway-based outdoor apparel brand Helly Hansen.

Before joining OTPP in 2012 to head its London office, Taylor spent more than 20 years with 3i Group and was non-executive director of Standard Life Private Equity European Trust, according to his LinkedIn profile.

The Toronto-based pension giant, with C$171.4 billion ($129 billion; €117 billion) under management, allocates about a third of its portfolio to alternatives, of which 11 percent is in private equity, 11.2 percent in real estate, 5.8 percent in infrastructure, and 5.3 percent is in private debt, according to PEI data.