Swiss investment major Rivoli Group has appointed Mourad Malloul, a private equity strategist, as its new president. He will be supported by a 14-strong expert team on the administrative board.

Malloul has been active in the group as a senior partner since 2014. While responsible for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) operations, he built up a wide-reaching network on-site in the key markets for the Rivoli Group, said a statement from the company.

An international consulting and investment company based in Zurich, Switzerland, Rivoli focuses on innovative companies in the seed and early phase, and makes available its equity capital, know-how and networks to its portfolio companies.

The service portfolio of the Rivoli Group also includes project developments in emerging countries with above-average growth opportunities.

He had been instrumental in setting up innovation-oriented projects, especially in high-growth emerging and developing countries, and now his focus will be on venture capital, said the company statement.

In the future, he will also be personally responsible for the business presence – on a temporary basis at least – in the African markets, it added.

Malloul said his priority is to develop venture capital and private equity transactions in the 12 current locations. Also he aims to invest together with the investors in project development in emerging countries with high growth potential.

"Our aim is to develop the Rivoli Group into one of the leading venture capital investors in Europe, with more effective networking in selected developing markets," stated Malloul.

"Also we are keen to extend the competence of the Rivoli Group AG to support SMEs in European capital market transactions and in financing measures independent of the banks," he added.