Vivo Capital has appointed Neetesh Kumar a managing partner, asking him to co-lead the healthcare investor’s US private equity and buyout strategy and establish its New York presence. Mr. Kumar joins from Spruceview Capital Partners, where he was a partner and adviser overseeing more than $4 billion of assets, and brings over 30 years across private equity, growth equity, venture capital and credit. He previously held senior investment roles with the J.P. Morgan Chase retirement plan, UC Investments, Rho Fund Investors, One Equity and Banc One Capital Partners, and began his career in technology at Andersen Consulting and as a founding team member of Vetri Systems.
Co-founder and managing partner Frank Kung said Mr. Kumar’s private markets experience will help grow the buyout strategy, and Mr. Kumar pointed to the convergence of healthcare and technology as the source of the opportunity he sees. Vivo Capital is a global healthcare specialist investing across venture capital, growth equity, buyout and public equity strategies, backing biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare services businesses. Founded in 1996, the firm manages roughly $7 billion, has invested in more than 460 companies and employs over 70 professionals from its Palo Alto headquarters and offices in Asia.