18 June 2013, Washington, DC – The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (“EMPEA”) announces that Yichen Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CITIC Capital Holdings Limited (“CITIC Capital”), has been elected to the organization’s governing body, the Board of Directors.

Yichen Zhang founded CITIC Capital in 2002. Prior to CITIC Capital, he joined CITIC Group in 2000 as an Executive Director of CITIC Pacific and President of CITIC Pacific Communications. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CITIC Capital, he leads one of China’s prominent investment firms. CITIC manages over US$4 billion from both international and Chinese investors, specializing in alternative investing management and advisory.

Responding to his election, Mr. Zhang said, “I am honored to be joining this group of experienced global leaders on EMPEA’s Board of Directors. I look forward to supporting the organization’s continued efforts to develop the asset class throughout emerging markets, as well as to strengthen its partnerships within Asia.”

EMPEA now serves approximately 320 member firms, representing over US$1 trillion in assets under management. EMPEA Members include institutional investors, fund managers and other industry stakeholders who share the belief that private equity investment in emerging markets can generate attractive returns to investors while creating significant value for companies, economies and communities.

Robert W. van Zwieten, President and CEO of EMPEA, commented further on the announcement, “With Asia playing an increasing role in driving the growth story of emerging markets, a deep understanding of the region and the Chinese market in particular is critical to EMPEA’s continued success in delivering actionable intelligence to global investors. We are very fortunate to have such an experienced and dedicated industry leader joining our Board of Directors and lending his expertise to the organization.”

Mr. Zhang will also have a seat on EMPEA’s newly expanded Asia Council. The Council, chaired by David Pierce, FLAG Squadron Asia, includes recent appointees Jane Brett, Asian Development Bank; Douglas Clayton, Leopard Capital; Chris Freund, Mekong Capital; Jie Gong, Morgan Stanley Alternative Investment Partners; Mukul Gulati, Zephyr Peacock Management India; Sudhir Sethi, IDG Ventures India; John Stephens, Pomona Capital; Sebastiaan Van den Berg, HarbourVest Partners (Asia) Limited; and Biao Xing, National Council for Social Security Fund P.R.C.

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About EMPEA
The Emerging Markets Private Equity Association (EMPEA) is an independent, global membership association whose mission is to catalyze the development of private equity and venture capital industries in emerging markets. EMPEA’s 300+ member firms share the belief that private equity can provide superior returns to investors, while creating significant value for companies, economies and communities in emerging markets. Our members, representing nearly 60 countries and more than US$1 trillion in assets under management, include the leading institutional investors and private equity and venture capital fund managers across developing and developed markets.

EMPEA’s Board of Directors
H. Jeffrey Leonard, (Chair), Global Environment Fund; Teresa Barger, (Vice Chair), Cartica Management LLC; Thomas C. Barry, Zephyr Management LP; Michael  Calvey, Baring Vostok Capital Partners; Okechukwu Enelamah, African Capital Alliance; Paul Fletcher, Actis; Mark Kenderdine-Davies, CDC Group plc; Roger S. Leeds, Johns Hopkins University SAIS; Piero Minardi, Gávea Investimentos; Arif Masood Naqvi, The Abraaj Group; Robert Petty, Clearwater Capital Partners; André Roux, Ethos Private Equity Ltd.; Jean Eric Salata, Baring Private Equity Asia; George W. Siguler, Siguler Guff & Company; Pote Videt, Lombard Investments; Rebecca Xu, Asia Alternatives Management LLC and Yichen Zhang, CITIC Capital.