Standard Chartered has appointed Peter Baird [pictured] as its new head of private equity for Africa.
Based in Johannesburg, Peter will report to Alastair Morrison, global co-head of the bank’s private equity business. Baird has been charged with continuing to grow Standard Chartered’s investments across Africa, with the private equity team having invested about $300million across the continent.
Baird joins from Vantage Capital, a mezzanine finance investor, where he was a senior advisor. He has previously worked as principal at Brait Capital Partners and also partner at McKinsey & Company.
Baird’s appointment comes just after Standard Chartered elevated Nainesh Jaisingh to the position of global co-head of its private equity business. Jaisingh was previously the head of the bank’s Indian private equity unit, and continues to be based in Mumbai.
His principal task will be to boost Standard Chartered’s presence across emerging markets with a specific focus on South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Jaisingh has been with the bank since 2000 and has led the India unit since 2006. Prior to joining SCPE he worked in the investment banking and commercial banking at ANZ Investment Bank and ANZ Grindleys.
