Former McKinsey Singapore head Chinta Bhagat joins L Catterton

Private equity firm L Catterton has appointed ex-McKinsey Singapore head Chinta Bhagat as the new co-managing partner of its Asia funds.

With $15 billion of equity capital across six funds targeting middle market companies in the consumer segment, L Catterton describes itself as the largest and most global consumer-focused private equity firm – its funds covering every continent bar Africa. Established in 2010 (as L Capital Asia prior to merging), the firm’s Asia fund has now welcomed a new co-managing partner; former McKinsey & Company Singapore Managing Partner Chinta Bhagat.

“We are pleased to welcome Chinta to L Catterton as we continue to build out our talented team across the globe and commit more resources in Asia, which continues to be a critical area of focus for L Catterton's global strategy,” said J. Michael Chu, Global co-CEO of L Catterton, who prior to co-founding Catterton in 1989 held a number a senior positions with Hong Kong-based investment management firm The First Pacific Company.

Bhagat crosses to Catterton after a four-year stint with Malaysian sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, where he has served as both Head of Private Markets for South Asia and head of its global healthcare portfolio. Prior to joining Khazanah, Bhagat spent close to a decade and a half with McKinsey, including six years serving as Managing Partner of the consulting giant’s Singapore office.

“Given Chinta’s operating and consulting experience, his addition is emblematic of our firm’s long history of focusing on value creation at the operating level,” added Chu’s fellow CEO Scott Dahnke, a former McKinsey partner in Chicago. “Coupled with his investment acumen, we see him as a key building block as we continue to grow our capabilities in Asia and beyond.”

During his time with McKinsey, where he was a leader in the firm’s principal investor, healthcare and operations practices, Bhagat worked extensively with private equity and sovereign wealth funds to develop strategies, execute transactions, manage risk, and implement board governance initiatives.  Bhagat will take up his new role as of the end of the month, alongside fellow Asia co-managing partner Ravi Thakran.

“Having known Chinta for many years, I have the utmost respect for him both personally and professionally, and I am excited to be working with him at L Catterton to build on our momentum and deepen our capabilities across the region,” Thakran said. “I believe his expertise in supporting growing businesses, leadership experience, and investing acumen will be a great asset to L Catterton.”

Bhagat’s recruitment furthers Catterton’s already significant ties to McKinsey, both internationally and in Asia. In addition to Dahnke, Jun Wang (Managing Director, South East Asia) and Haichen Zhang, Frank Zhao and Harry Markl (Catterton Asia Managing Directors, Operations), are among those who have spent time spent time at firm, the latter as an Associate Principal working alongside Bhagat in its Singapore office.

“Joining the global partnership group at L Catterton is an exciting opportunity to reconnect with several McKinsey alumni,” and I look forward to working with the talented team in Asia to build on the work they have done so far,” commented Bhagat on his appointment. “The firm has established itself as the pre-eminent global private equity investment partner for companies at the forefront of the rapidly changing consumer landscape.”