The Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCAL) has hired Katherine Woodthorpe as its chief executive. Woodthorpe replaces Andrew Green, who left AVCAL in November to join private equity firm Barwon Investment Partners.
"We are delighted to welcome Katherine at a key moment for the private equity industry, both in terms of the prominent role of later stage buy-out funds and as we look to continue the development of the early stage venture capital end of the market," AVCAL chairman David Jones said.
Woodthorpe said one of her immediate priorities was to ensure industry, government and media had an understanding of venture capital and private equity that was as close to the truth as possible.
"There is the challenge to make sure the public, media and government have an understanding of private equity that is clear and true," she said.
"There is a misconception which comes from the emotive language of using terms such as corporate raiders and barbarians to describe private equity managers."
