To help deliver its growth ambitions, it agreed a partnership with SLC Management, the alternatives asset manager of Sun Life (“Sun Life”) through a majority equity acquisition by Sun Life in 2020 which has strengthened the long-term intergenerational stability of the InfraRed platform. It further provided seed and co-investment capital to expand InfraRed’s strategy and boost its North American presence.
As part of the partnership with Sun Life, InfraRed has secured operational autonomy and agreed a long-term incentive structure which aligns the business’ staff and leadership with investors in InfraRed’s funds and Sun Life.
With the backing of Sun Life, InfraRed has recently stepped up its efforts to build out its presence across geographies, with over 170 investment professionals in the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia.
Additionally, InfraRed is driving its planned, gradual succession process to the next generation of leaders at the firm. As an institution with a 25-year heritage in infrastructure, InfraRed has significant experience in handling succession processes and a unique track record in securing the long-term stability and success of the platform. As part of ongoing succession management, the firm has announced several senior internal promotions and senior hires, including to Partner level, to crystalise a broader future management team as follows:
- The expansion of the Management Committee to include Richard Crawford (Income Fund Management), Marie Dierickx (Human Resources) and Stéphane Kofman (Capital Gains Fund Management); while Keith Pickard remains as COO and Werner von Guionneau and Chris Gill have undertaken to continue as CEO and DCEO respectively and will provide leadership to InfraRed’s Management Committee for the foreseeable future.
- Seven appointments to Partner, who now total 21, with more being expected over the next months. These include:
- Thomas Buss, who joined InfraRed in 2016 and leads the teams on the origination, structuring and execution of investments in Europe, with a particular emphasis on energy and energy transition,
- Phil George, who joined InfraRed in 2014 and leads the financial reporting and management of TRIG. Phil also leads the portfolio management for InfraRed’s energy income funds and co-investment vehicles,
- Edward Hunt, who joined the firm in 2013 and leads the core income group of funds in Europe and has the responsibility for the management of HICL Infrastructure plc,
- Dulce Mendonça, who also joined InfraRed in 2013 and leads the capital raising and fund management of InfraRed European Infrastructure Income Fund 4,
- Jack Paris, who joined InfraRed in 2021 as Head of the Americas. Jack joined from Citigroup where he was Global Co-Head of Power, Utilities and Renewables at Citigroup,
- Michael Straka who joined in 2021 as Head of Capital Formation, formerly Global Head of Infrastructure Sales and Investor Relations at Deutsche Bank Group to build a market leading client solutions service across fundraising, business development, and co-investment,
- Sean Watson, who joined InfraRed in 2012 and focuses on its investment strategy in the renewable and energy sector across Europe.
- Seven appointments to Partner, who now total 21, with more being expected over the next months. These include:
Due to personal reasons, Harry Seekings will be stepping back from his day-to-day executive role and as a Member of the Management Committee. Harry will continue his contribution to the firm as a Senior Adviser and will also pursue other interests outside the sphere of infrastructure investing.
In the North American market, InfraRed has already significantly increased its presence and is well advanced with the implementation of a detailed plan to further expand its team. In addition to the appointment of Jack Paris, as Head of the Americas, in 2021 InfraRed hired Jay Crawford as Head of Asset Management, Americas. These hires and other internal role evolutions have developed the functional capabilities of the New York team and further strengthened InfraRed’s presence in mid-market infrastructure, across both core and energy transition investment strategies.
About InfraRed Capital Partners
InfraRed Capital Partners is an international infrastructure investment manager, investing in real assets which contribute positively to society and support the transition to a net zero future. It operates worldwide from offices in London, New York, Sydney and Seoul. With around 170 professionals, it manages US$12bn+ of equity capital in multiple private and listed funds, primarily for institutional investors across the globe
At InfraRed, a long-term, sustainability-led mindset is essential to delivering lasting success, and this mindset directs its assessment and management of the Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) aspects of its business. InfraRed has been a signatory of the Principles of Responsible Investment since 2011 and has been awarded triple A+ score in the 2020 review (relating to the 2019 assessment period). It is also a member of the Net Zero Asset Manager’s Initiative, a certified CarbonNeutral® company1 and is a TCFD supporter.
InfraRed is a part of SLC Management, the institutional alternatives and traditional asset management business of Sun Life. Over the past 30 years, InfraRed has established itself as a highly successful developer and custodian of core infrastructure, renewable energy and real estate assets that play a vital role in supporting sustainable communities.
1. In accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol. Further information is available at https://carbonneutral.com/ the-carbonneutral-protocol
