The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) has retained Vikram Gandhi and his firm, VSG Capital Advisors, as senior advisors, effective March 1, 2012.
Based in India and Hong Kong, Gandhi and VSG will provide strategic advice and facilitate investment opportunities for the CPPIB in the Indian sub-continent.
Prior to founding VSG, Gandhi was global head of the financial institutions group and vice-chairman of the investment banking department at Credit Suisse, based in New York and Hong Kong.
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“Vikram and his firm bring exceptional market knowledge and relationships across the Indian sub-continent,” said Mark Wiseman, executive vice-president of investments with CPPIB. “India is an increasingly important market, and we are very pleased to have Vikram and his firm as strategic advisors as we continue to explore investment opportunities in this very promising region of the world.”
CPPIB has a growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region. As of December 31, 2011 it had $152.8 billion in assets, with 8.5%—or $13.1 billion—in public equity, real estate, infrastructure and private investments in Asia, including Australia.
“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to partner with an organization with the stature of CPPIB,” said Gandhi. “VSG and I look forward to working with CPPIB in further building its presence, relationships and opportunities in the Indian sub-continent.”