Vicky Williams joined Cambridge Associates as senior investment director, said a spokesman for the consultant.
It is a new position. Ms. Williams advises Cambridge Associates’ U.K. and European private and public pension fund clients on their private investment portfolios.
Ms. Williams’ appointment comes as pension funds are looking to a widening range of private investments, including co-investment in real estate and infrastructure, direct lending, and venture capital, a news release said.
“We are seeing pension funds that have traditionally steered clear of private investments now consider not just private equity but the whole gamut of private investments — including private debt and niche strategies,” said Alex Koriath, head of Cambridge’s European pensions practice, in the news release.
Cambridge is “getting an increasing number of inquiries from pension funds requiring specialist private investment advice. With (Ms. Williams) joining the team, we will be able to help more new clients,” Mr. Koriath added.
Ms. Williams was previously head of private equity at BP Investment Management, the in-house money manager for the £21 billion ($30.7 billion) BP Pension Fund, London. She was responsible for the pension fund’s £1.9 billion private equity portfolio, the release said. Spokesmen for sponsoring employer BP could not be reached for comment by press time.