Zouk announces addition of Dr. Erich Becker as a Partner
Zouk Capital LLP, formerly zouk ventures ltd (“Zouk”), is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Erich Becker as a new Partner. Dr Becker will co-lead the infrastructure team with Colin Campbell. Zouk’s infrastructure strategy focuses exclusively on the renewable energy & environmental sectors and has a strong track record of financing late-stage development and greenfield assets.
Erich brings a wealth of experience in energy infrastructure investment from some of the world’s leading financial institutions. He joins Zouk from Macquarie Bank, where he was a Senior Managing Director responsible for creating and managing a merchant banking approach to commodity investments. Erich previously worked at Och-Ziff Capital Management and Goldman Sachs, focusing in both roles on principal investment in energy assets. He has an extensive track record of investment in renewable energy and environmental infrastructure, including assets in the geothermal, waste-to-energy, emission abatement and wind sectors.
Erich’s professional career has been built on his doctoral studies in process engineering, following which he had operational experience in the management of power generation assets. This valuable experience aligns with Zouk’s strategy of active investment management; providing its portfolio companies and infrastructure partners with a valuable combination of operational knowledge and financial expertise.
Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Capital, commented:
“Erich is an energy infrastructure expert of the highest calibre. He offers Zouk deep sector expertise, covering principal investment, corporate finance, commodity trading and fund management. His considerable skills and networks will complement those of Colin Campbell, who has led Zouk’s infrastructure activities with great success since 2007. Erich joins at a key moment for the infrastructure team, as we commence fundraising for a second infrastructure fund to invest in European renewable energy and environmental infrastructure projects, an area which offers huge growth potential. Erich will add real value as we enter this exciting period of our development.”
Erich Becker added:
“Zouk has a market-leading international team with a strong record of financing quality assets in the renewable energy and environmental infrastructure sector. The firm’s expertise in both cleantech and renewable and environmental infrastructure investments allows Zouk to realise synergies and create value for our investors and the assets and companies we invest in. I’m especially pleased to be joining Zouk at such an exciting time for the infrastructure side of the business, and I look forward to working closely with Colin and the rest of the team on the fundraising and investment of the new fund over the coming months.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Dr. Erich Becker
Erich Becker will co-lead Zouk’s Infrastructure team with Colin Campbell. He draws on 15 years of experience in energy infrastructure investment at Macquarie, Och-Ziff and Goldman Sachs, having specialised in the design, engineering and optimisation of various energy infrastructure assets prior to working in the financial sector.
Before joining Zouk, Erich was Senior Managing Director at Macquarie Bank; he created and managed a merchant banking approach to commodity markets at this renowned infrastructure investment institution. Prior to Macquarie, he was an energy sector specialist at Och-Ziff Capital Management Group and an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs; at both he focused on principal investment in the energy sector. Erich has a PhD in Process Engineering from the Technical University of Vienna, focused on financing, design and optimisation of power plants. He also holds an MBA from the Vienna School of Economics and Business Administration.
About Zouk Capital LLP
Zouk Capital, formerly Zouk Ventures Ltd, is an independent London-based private equity fund manager with a focus on the European cleantech market. Zouk’s goal is to create sustainable long term returns by building strong companies and projects with tangible financial and environmental value. Zouk specifically invests in two areas of this growth market: clean technology companies and renewable energy & environmental infrastructure. Through increased market intelligence, this strategy optimises the potential for value creation in the sector. Currently Zouk manages three cleantech-focused funds: two expansion-stage private equity funds investing in clean technology companies; and a renewable infrastructure fund focused on solar project development. Cleantech Europe II, the second clean technology fund, closed at €230 million and is the largest of its type in Europe. Zouk’s investment teams consist of professionals with a diverse experience base, including private equity, engineering, corporate management, investment banking and consultancy.
Further information
MEDIA
Brunswick Group
London - Natalia Erikssen, Max McGahan
+44 (0)20 7404 5959
Frankfurt - Alexa Von Wietzlow
+49 (69) 24 00 55 59
zouk@brunswickgroup.com
INVESTORS
Zouk Capital
Patrick Shuttleworth, Investor Relations
pshuttleworth@zouk.com
+44 (0)20 7947 3410
