BC Partners

Michel Guillet, John Burgess and Alberto Tazartes are to retire from BC Partners in the next 18 months. The recent announcement follows on from the retirement in 2001 of co-founders Otto van der Wyck and Patrice Hoppenot. According to limited partners invested in the firm's funds, Guillet, who founded BC's Paris office in 1987, will leave the firm in October this year. London-based Burgess, a co-founder in 1986, and Milan-based Tazartes, who joined in 1989, will depart at the end of 2005. The changes come ahead of BC's eagerly anticipated return to the fundraising market later this year or next year to raise its eighth LBO fund. Existing limited partners say the retirees will not be involved in investing BC European Capital VIII, although all three are expected to personally invest in the new fund. BC's LPs also say they feel positive about the firm's handling of the pending management changes. According to one: ‘They've told us about these developments early, and they've got the depth and breadth of talent to replace the three internally and to ensure management continuity.’ BC Partners currently has 10 managing partners, including Stefano Quadrio Curzio and Raymond Svider who were elected last year, and 12 partners across offices in London, Paris, Hamburg, Geneva and Milan. The managing partners meet every two weeks to make decisions on key issues relating to the firm's business on a one partner, one vote basis. After the departure of Guillet, Burgess and Tazartes, Hamburg-based managing partner Jens Reidel will chair the managing partner meetings as well as the firm's investment committee. Simon Palley, who sits in London, will lead the communication of BC's performance and strategy to investors. Francesco Loredan, who heads up the Geneva office, will oversee the administration of the firm and its funds.

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• Topics
• GPs
• Southern Europe