Allianz adds pair to infra debt team

Allianz Global Investors has supplemented its infrastructure debt team, which is helmed by Deborah Zurkow, as it looks to begin dealmaking.

The more senior of the two hires sees Nicolas Lucas join as a partner to expand the group’s execution capabilities, the firm said in a statement. He will report to Adrian Jones, director of infrastructure debt.
 
Lucas has more than seven years of infrastructure experience, and joins from Royal Bank of Scotland where he was a vice president in the bank’s infrastructure, power and utilities. Prior to that, he worked at Société Générale in New York, and Calyon and Carmignac Gestion in Paris.

In addition to Lucas’ hire, Alexander Ball joins as an associate from RBC Capital Markets where he was an analyst in the acquisition and leveraged finance team. His particular area of expertise lies in the origination, execution, and distribution of infrastructure deals in the airport, road, utilities and energy sectors.

Deborah Zurkow, chief investment officer and head of infrastructure debt at AllianzGI, says: “We are very pleased to welcome Nicolas and Alexander on board. They will play an important part in our ambitious plans to grow and deepen our expertise in this specialist sector.