Advent International has hired Bryan Taylor as a managing partner to lead Advent’s technology investment team. He will be based in the firm’s new office in the San Francisco Bay Area which will be opened later this year.
Most recently, Mr. Taylor was a partner and co-head of TPG Capital’s technology group, where he jointly led its 20-person team that invested in software, data analytics and technology services. He left TPG Capital in October 2017. He has experience across a range of transaction sizes, from later-stage growth equity investments to large-scale buyouts.
Prior to joining TPG in 2004, Mr. Taylor was the co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm focused on operational improvement in software companies. From 1992 to 2000, he was a consultant at Bain & Company in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Mr. Taylor has both his MBA and undergraduate degrees from Stanford.
“Bryan is the ideal person to lead our technology investment activities as he understands our partnership culture, which emphasizes global collaboration and operational excellence to build sustainable long-term value in companies,” said David Mussafer, a managing partner of Advent. “He is a highly respected and successful investor whose leadership will ensure that we continue to capitalize on technology opportunities within each of our five industry sectors and across the markets where we operate.”
At Advent, Mr. Taylor will work closely with the firm’s 14-person technology team. Eric Wei, a managing director on Advent’s technology team in New York, will be relocating to the Bay Area this summer.
“Eric Wei approached me about joining Advent to help expand its technology franchise, and I’m very excited about this opportunity,” said Mr. Taylor. “Advent’s strong global platform, collaborative culture and philosophy of backing innovative management teams at growth-oriented companies were key factors in my decision to join the firm. I look forward to working with my new colleagues at Advent to continue building market-leading businesses in the technology sector.”
Advent has been investing in the technology sector for 28 years and focuses on growth equity and buyouts in the software, data and technology-enabled services subsectors, primarily in North America and Europe.
“Technology is an attractive area of investment in its own right, but its effective application is also central to success across all industries in the global economy. With our cross-border capabilities and sector expertise, we believe a deeper focus in technology will enable us to pursue investment opportunities in the technology industry more effectively and create additional value in our portfolio companies across all our target sectors,” said James Brocklebank, a managing partner of Advent.
Advent International invests in companies active in business and financial services; healthcare; industrial; retail, consumer and leisure; and technology, media and telecom. Advent has 14 offices in 12 countries and employs 190 investment professionals across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Boston, Advent has $39 billion in assets under management and has completed more than 335 buyout and private equity transactions (www.adventinternational.com).
© 2019 Private Equity Professional | February 5, 2019