AIG Investments - Direct Investments Team

FT Chong
Managing Director, Head of Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Chong joined AIG Investments in 1998 and currently leads the Direct Investments Team which focuses on private equity and mezzanine investing in developed markets such as the United States and Europe. Mr. Chong has worked in buyouts and leveraged financing since 1981. Mr. Chong is currently a director of a number of companies including Fresh Direct, High Response Holdings and IHS. Prior to joining AIG Investments, Mr. Chong was Executive Vice President for Business Development for the GT Group, an Asian conglomerate, from 1994 to 1998. In the early 1990’s he was a founder and CFO of Dynadx Technologies, Inc., a start-up company that developed and marketed a new out-of-home advertising technology. From 1981 to 1989 he was head of the $3 billion US leveraged finance group at Swiss Bank Corp. and participated in or led the financing for more than two dozen high profile leveraged buyouts. He received an MBA from Columbia University and also has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Malaya.

Jeffrey Kelly
Managing Director, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Kelly joined AIG Investments in 2005 and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, executing and managing direct equity and mezzanine investments for AIG Investments. He is also responsible for the development of private equity firm and intermediary relationships. Previously, Mr. Kelly served as Managing Director, Leveraged Finance with RBC Capital Markets from 2003 to 2004. Prior to joining RBC, Mr. Kelly served as Managing Director in the Acquisition Finance and Media Communications Groups at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. from 1998 to 2001. Prior to that, Mr. Kelly worked in the Acquisitions Finance Group at Salomon Smith Barney and in the Mergers and Acquisitions Group at Credit Suisse First Boston LLC. During Mr. Kelly’s 17 year investment banking career, he originated and executed leverage finance, equity and mergers and acquisitions transactions for leveraged buyout firms and corporations across a wide variety of industries. Mr. Kelly received an MBA from The Wharton School of Business and a BS in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Jonathan Stearns
Managing Director, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Stearns joined AIG Investments in 2006 and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, executing and managing direct equity and mezzanine investments. Mr. Stearns brings 20 years experience in private capital investing in a variety of industries, capital structures and stages of development in companies located in the U.S. and Western Europe. Prior to joining AIG Investments, Mr. Stearns was the founder of Associated Partners, a private investment firm. He joined Abbott Capital in 2001as a Director, and actively invested and managed its private equity co-investment program. From 1994 to 2000, he was a Managing Director of Equinox Investment Partners, a private capital investment company with over $300 million under management. Formerly, he was a Director with various subsidiaries of Kleinwort Benson, PLC where he was actively involved in managing private capital investments in the U.S. and Western Europe. Mr. Stearns received his B.A. in history and political science from The University of the South and studied economics and politics at the graduate school of Cornell University.

Rajveer Ranawat
Managing Director, Head of Direct Investment Group - Europe
AIG Investments, London

Mr. Ranawat joined AIG Investments in 1993 and is currently the Head of the Direct Investment Group in Europe, responsible for originating, structuring, investing and managing direct investments for AIG Investments and its clients in Europe. In 1998, he founded the team that sourced, structured, managed, fund and direct private equity investments in Europe, overseeing a $1.5 billion portfolio. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Ranawat was a Director of Investments at AIG Capital Partners, Inc., where he focused on private equity investments in the emerging markets. Mr. Ranawat received a BS in International Business and an MBA from Jacksonville University.

Elliot Hayes
Vice President, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Hayes joined AIG Investments in 2000 and is responsible for sourcing, managing, and executing private equity and mezzanine debt transactions, and maintaining intermediary and sponsor relationships. Mr. Hayes also maintains four portfolio company Board of Directorships. Prior to joining the Direct Investments Team, he worked as a Research Analyst and Assistant to the CEO of AIG Investments, where he assisted in internal asset management activities, merger and acquisition analysis and integration, and general business development activities. His investment, corporate finance, and general management experience began in 1994. Prior to joining AIG Investments, Mr. Hayes worked at the Southern Africa Enterprise Development Fund (SAEDF) as a Senior Investment Associate. There he participated in all aspects of the investment process for a $100 million venture capital/development fund. Before joining SAEDF, Mr. Hayes worked as an analyst in the Media and Telecommunications Group at Chemical Securities (now JP Morgan). Mr. Hayes received a BS in Finance from Boston College and an MBA from the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration.

Scott Gallin
Vice President, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Gallin joined AIG Investments in 2002 and is responsible for sourcing, screening, analyzing, and executing direct investments, as well as monitoring several portfolio companies’ financial reports. His industry experience began in 1997, when he worked as an Associate at Kluge & Co., the private equity arm of Metromedia Company, where he participated in the investment of debt and equity capital in venture-stage, growth equity, and buyout transactions until 2002. From 1996 to 1997, he was a Business Analyst in Andersen Consulting’s (now Accenture) Strategic Services group. Mr. Gallin received a BA (magna cum laude) in Regional Science and History from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School, where he was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma. Mr. Gallin received a Fulbright Scholarship and attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Finance and Economics at Columbia University.

Robert Bradburn
Vice President, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, London

Mr. Bradburn joined AIG Investments in 2007 and is responsible for the origination and execution of private equity direct investments in Western Europe. Previously at TDR Capital, he was principally responsible for the successful turnaround and sale of a portfolio company in the pallet rental business and sat on the board of that company. Prior to TDR, he worked in private equity at Deutsche Bank Capital Partners, and in derivatives and finance at Paribas and Bankers Trust. Early in his career, Mr. Bradburn worked as an engineer at the UK Atomic Energy Authority. Robert received an MEng from Oxford University and an MBA from the London Business School.

Winston Chow
Senior Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Chow joined AIG Investments in 2005 and is responsible for screening, evaluating, and executing mezzanine and direct equity investments. Prior to joining AIG Investments, he worked for GE Capital’s Global Sponsor Finance group, where he focused on providing debt and equity capital to financial sponsors for leveraged transactions, including buyouts, acquisitions, and recapitalizations. Previously, Mr. Chow worked as an Associate at Comdisco Ventures, providing venture debt and equity to early-stage technology companies. Prior to Comdisco, Mr. Chow was a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs in its Credit Risk Management and Advisory group. Mr. Chow received a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Philip Edwards
Senior Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Edwards joined AIG Investments in 2006 and is responsible for screening, evaluating, and executing mezzanine and direct equity investments. Prior to joining AIG Investments, he worked at CIBC World Markets as a Vice President within their Financial Sponsors / Leveraged Finance Group, where he focused on structuring and underwriting, as well as marketing and raising capital for leveraged buyout firms and corporations across a wide range of industries. Previously, Mr. Edwards worked at Deutsche Bank for nearly four years, first as an Analyst in their Financial Sponsors Group and then as an Associate on their High Yield Capital Markets Desk. Mr. Edwards graduated with a BA in Economics from Trinity College and received an MSc in Finance from City Business School, London.

Smita Badiga
Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Ms. Badiga joined AIG Investments in February 2006. She previously worked as a financial analyst for an asset management firm where her responsibilities included fundamental research on equities and other money market instruments to evaluate opportunities for clients. Ms. Badiga received a Starr Scholarship and earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance from Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management, where she was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma.

Vidar Bergum
Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, London

Mr. Bergum joined AIG Investments in 2007, focusing on European direct investments. He previously worked as an analyst in the Nordic Mergers and Acquisitions team at Deutsche Bank AG London. Mr. Bergum has an undergraduate degree in Business Economics from Trondheim Business School, Norway, and a postgraduate degree in Economics from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration.

Deanna Devloo
Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Ms. Devloo joined AIG Investments in 2004 and is responsible for maintaining the team’s track record and assisting with the group’s reporting responsibilities. Prior to joining AIG Investments, she worked as an Associate Consultant within Standard & Poor’s Corporate Value Consulting division, preparing business valuations and intangible asset appraisals for financial and tax reporting purposes. Ms. Devloo received a BS in Finance and Marketing from Lehigh University.

Dominick Giardullo
Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Giardullo joined AIG Investments in 2004. He is responsible for screening, evaluating and executing mezzanine and direct equity investments, as well as monitoring several portfolio companies’ financial reports. Prior to joining AIG Investments, Mr. Giardullo worked in the Valuation Advisory Group of Ernst & Young LLP where he was responsible for performing valuations of a variety of business enterprises including private and publicly traded equity, debt securities, and intangible corporate assets in connection with strategic planning, M&A, corporate restructurings, litigation support, division spin-offs, and tax planning. Mr. Giardullo received a BS in Finance and Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University.

PJ Oleksak
Associate, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Ms. Oleksak joined AIG Investments in 2005. She previously worked in investment banking as an Analyst at Harris Williams & Co., specializing in middle market mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Oleksak earned a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting with a concentration in Finance from the University of Richmond's Robins School of Business, summa cum laude.

Lindsey Crumbaugh
Analyst, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Ms. Crumbaugh joined AIG Investments in 2007. Prior to joining AIG Investments, she worked in investment banking as an Analyst at Harris Williams & Co., specializing in middle-market mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Crumbaugh received a BS in Applied Economics & Management from Cornell University, cum laude.

Thomas Hollins
Analyst, Direct Investments Group
AIG Investments, New York

Mr. Hollins joined AIG Investments in July 2007. Previously, Mr. Hollins worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Industrial Growth & Services Group at Wachovia Securities where he performed valuation analyses and built financial models. He also participated in the origination and execution of leveraged finance and equity transactions and provided buyside and sellside advisory services to industrial companies. Mr. Hollins received a BA from Emory University with majors in Economics and Political Science.