Strategy & Practice Management

Morgan Stanley Overhauls Asia Private Equity Division

Morgan Stanley has restructured its Asia private equity division, prompted by leadership changes including the retirement of CEO Chin Chou.

Chou, who has served the firm for 35 years, including roles in New York and Asia, will be stepping down. He has been a significant figure in the firm’s APAC executive committee and instrumental in managing five regional private equity funds.

Andrew Hawkyard, the chief investment officer who has been with Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia for 24 years, will also retire.

As part of the reorganization, the firm will establish a specialized China team responsible for both onshore and offshore investments, to be led by Jun Xu. Xu, who has been with Morgan Stanley since 2005 and joined the Asia private equity unit in 2008, will oversee all private equity investments in China.

Additionally, Nirav Mehta and Arjun Saigal, currently co-heads of the India private equity team, will now lead Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia excluding China. Their focus will primarily be on investments across Asia with a particular emphasis on India.