Private equity firm Ara Partners is expanding its presence in Europe with a new office in Dublin, Ireland, and hiring five key investment professionals, a press release said.
Houston-based Ara Partners, which specializes in industrial decarbonization investments, plans to add Christopher Picotte as a partner, Luis Pais Correia as a senior operating partner, Lisa O'Brien as general counsel-Europe, Myles O'Shaughnessy as a principal and Chris Seenan as a vice president, according to the press release.
"We are thrilled to welcome Chris, Luis and the rest of the Europe-based team to the Ara organization," Charles Cherington, a managing partner at Ara, said in the release. "We believe this world-class team of professionals and their combined expertise will further Ara's growing presence in the European private equity market."
Picotte brings expertise to Ara Partners, having served as chairman and a shareholder of px Group Ltd since 2013, and co-founded Aksiom Group in 2017, the release said. He also serves as the chairman of AXESS Networks Solutions SL, a board member of Anesco Holdings Ltd and of Jernbro Industrial Services AB.
Luis Pais Correia is also a co-founder of Aksiom Group and has been a board member and a shareholder of px Group Ltd since 2014, the release said. Correia serves as a member of the board of Värmevärden, the Chairman of Anesco Holdings Ltd and Jernbro Industrial Services AB and as a board member of AXESS Networks Solutions SL, the press release said.
Lisa O'Brien has more than 20 years of experience as a finance and corporate lawyer, in addition to being the general counsel for Aksiom Goup, the release said. She also has served as a member of the Partnership Council and co-head of U.S. Energy and Infrastructure practice.
Myles O'Shaughnessy previously served as a vice president at Aksiom Group and was a vice president in the Corporate Credit Group of Guggenheim Partners.
Chris Seenan previously served as a vice president at Aksiom Group, and had worked for several PE-backed companies, the press release said.