Investment Association appoints first ever Head of Private Markets and bolsters Capital Markets division

The Investment Association (IA) has appointed Namita Kain to a newly created role of Head of Private Markets. The IA’s Capital Markets division has been further bolstered by the promotion of Hugo Gordon from Senior Policy Adviser to the new role of Head of Capital Markets.

Namita, joining from Octopus Investments, will be leading the IA’s work and engagement on all issues related to private markets, advocating for the investment management perspective on relevant regulatory and legislative developments and championing the role of private market investment in delivering economic growth.

The Head of Private Markets is a new role at the IA, created in recognition of the increasing importance of private markets within the industry.

Hugo Gordon has spent over ten years at the IA specialising in capital markets policy. In his new role as Head of Capital Markets he is responsible for all matters relating to public markets, overseeing the IA’s approach to policy issues on public equities and fixed income, FX, ETFs, and derivatives. He also has oversight of all IA Special Committees and all trading, market infrastructure and investment operations’ matters relevant to IA member firms.

Galina Dimitrova, Director for Investment and Capital Markets at the Investment Association, said:

“The investment management industry plays a pivotal role in fuelling economic growth, and I am excited to announce two key appointments that enhance the Investment Association’s leadership in both public and private markets.

“Private markets have seen exponential growth as companies and investors turn to them for capital, income, and diversification. Namita’s appointment will drive our strategic focus in this dynamic space, ensuring investment sits at the heart of the government’s growth agenda. I am also delighted to welcome Hugo into his new role as Head of Capital Markets, taking forward our important work on public markets with vision and expertise. I look forward to working closely with both to advance our mission in these vital areas.”

Namita Kain, Head of Private Markets at the Investment Association, said:

“I’ve seen first-hand the rapid growth of private markets in recent years, which now represent over $12trn in global AUM. I’m excited to step into this new role at the Investment Association and work with our members, government and regulator to ensure that private market growth continues at pace, with the correct policy levers in place to unlock greater investment and drive economic growth in the UK.”

Next month, the IA will also be hosting its first ever Private Markets Summit.  The Summit will bring together policy makers, regulators and industry experts to share their thoughts on the factors driving private markets growth, how private markets can be an engine for wider economic and social prosperity, and the challenges and opportunities that exist in this space.

Notes to Editors

Namita joined the IA at the start of May with extensive experience across both private and public markets. She previously worked across both private and public equities at Octopus Investments, where she led a cross-functional team responsible for three UK equity funds and two private discretionary managed services. She also spent several years at Invesco as a Corporate Strategy Manager, where she worked closely with C-suite executives to shape strategy, market positioning and regulatory engagement.  Namita has completed her Executive MBA with Columbia Business School and the London Business School.