HarbourVest promotes three to MD

Boston investment firm HarbourVest has promoted three of its staff to managing director, including Peter Lipson, a member of the private equity firm’s direct investment team, and Julie Ocko, who sits in the primary funds team.

Lipson, who joined the firm in 1997, focuses on growth equity and buyout investments and serves as a director on several portfolio companies, such as Photobox and Towne Park.

Ocko has been with the firm’s primary partnership team since 2001, focusing on US buyout, venture capital and credit investment strategies. She currently sits on the advisory boards of several funds, including Berkshire Partners and Thoma Barvo.

HarbourVest has also promoted Mary Traer to managing director and chief administrative officer, while Karin Lagerlund will be chief financial officer.

Traer joined HarbourVest in 1997 as the director of taxation, and became a principal in 2003. In her new role she will oversee the tax and compliance teams, and will coordinate and administer all statutory compliance for the firm's global operations. She is also involved in the investment side of the business, helping to structure funds and investments to take into account the legal, regulatory and tax regimes applicable.  

Lagerlund joined HarbourVest in 2000 as the firm's controller. She manages the firm's accounting and finance activities, and oversees a team of 39 that produces annual and semi-annual financial statements, as well as quarterly limited partner capital account statements and other client reporting.  The team is also responsible for portfolio valuation and fund-level performance measurement.  

The firm has made four other promotions among its staff: Sebastian van den Berg has been appointed principal; while Bruce Pixler, Catherine Shih and Abraham Soquar have been made up to vice president.