Private Equity Talks

In this episode of TOTO, we look at how private markets managers are investing in their tech and data teams to meet future challenges.We interview Josko Grljevic, the chief technology officer at Mayfair Equity Partners and hear his views on ROI for in-house tech spend and how GPs should move to a 'rent' rather than 'buy' model for software.Grljevic is Mayfair's first ever CTO and it is a role that remains rare in the midmarket, so we also ask him about the drivers for this strategic hire.

This episode of the podcast takes a look at independent sponsors, their unique operating models and why LP interest is risingAfter The Drawdown’s attempt earlier this year to raise our own fund but eventually pivoting to the deal-by-deal model, TOTO sits down and discusses alignment with LPs, valuations and independent sponsors in the spotlight.For this episode, we sat down with Jason Howard, COO/CFO and partner at Headway Capital Partners to unpack the topic from his unique perspective as both a GP and LP for independent sponsors, specifically.

The latest episode looks at the roles of accountability and technology in developing a standardised and transparent valuations processFollowing our tour through GPs’ valuation studios, TOTO sits down and discusses the findings, in light of the publication of the FCA’s review of valuation processes which pointed towards independence and managing conflicts of interests as areas of improvement.We speak to Ryan McNelley, managing director and EMEA portfolio valuation leader within Kroll’s valuation service line, about the roles technology and accountability play in creating a standardised and transparent valuation process.

Adrian Whelan, Managing Director and Global Head of Market Intelligence at Brown Brothers Harriman, shares insights on the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and its challenges. He discusses the regulatory landscape, emphasizing the importance of compliance and operational resilience for firms. Whelan highlights the potential opportunities DORA presents for well-prepared managers and dives into trends in fund structuring while drawing parallels with the music industry’s response to GDPR, showcasing collaboration amid uncertainty.

In the first episode of Top of the Ops in 2025, The Drawdown’s editorial gang discusses the importance of operational due diligence and how it is weighed differently depending on whether a firm is an emerging or established manager.Following on from our recent cover story ‘ODDenheimer’, we speak to Peter Haskopoulos, founder and managing director of Petra Funds Group, who regularly works with emerging managers. We discuss the particularities of ODD for emerging managers and what they can do to prepare.

In this episode The Drawdown team discusses the chances of defaults for NAV facilities raised against a PE buyout fund. Given the chasm between perceptions of market participants and market observers on the risk of these facilities, could the truth lie somewhere in the middle?Following on from our recent cover story Anatomy of default, we speak to Samantha Hutchinson, partner at King & Spalding, about the risk of default for NAV facilities, why these transactions are coming under increased regulatory and press scrutiny and whether the fund finance industry requires greater transparency.

This latest episode of Top of the Ops sees The Drawdown team assess the challenges of succession planning in PE operations. As the industry elders enter retirement, how can firms ensure the next generation of CFOs and COOs are prepared to take over?Picking up from our recent cover story, No country for old men, we speak to Khuram Bajwa, director at executive search firm One Ten Associates about how to hire future operational leaders and ensure your team has the right balance between specialists and generalists.

In this episode of Top of the Ops, The Drawdown team debates whether the operations of US private funds are beginning to look more European due to regulatory and investor pressures. Following on from our recent cover story, Bridging the Atlantic, we investigate whether the global nature of private markets means the gap between the US and Europe in terms of operational complexity has narrowed, despite the SEC’s proposed Private Fund Adviser Rules being quashed in court. To help us analyse the difference between US and European operations, we speak to Amy Knapp, partner and COO at Corsair Capital, a US-based firm that also has a team in London.

The latest episode of Top of the Ops, The Drawdown’s podcast in which the editorial team discusses a recent cover feature, is all about diversity and inclusion. In the corresponding article - Ecosystemic Change - we investigate the commonly accepted narrative that LPs are the main drivers behind DEI initiatives in private equity and what GPs can do to make the industry more inclusive for everyone. Enter: Lucie Mills, partner for value creation and ESG at Northedge. Her focus is on creating an inclusive environment. Because if your firm is inclusive, diversity will naturally follow. Lucie’s thoughts guided the editorial team in this episode of TOTO.

The Drawdown trio tickles your eardrums once more, with our monthly podcast accompanying our latest cover feature. This time, we talk about gen AI trends. But with some substance - trust us.The cover story, entitled Strength Tr -AI- ning, examines how technological innovation is linked with operational resilience. It focuses on the emerging use of gen AI in operations with Microsoft Copilot, legal tech and in valuations processes. We attempt to satiate our avid listeners with what the cover feature did not have scope for: addressing AI risk management techniques and adopting the appropriate guardrails. For this, we were guided by our conversation with CTO at Sure Valley Ventures, John Frizelle.Click on the link to listen to what John has to say.