Carlyle structures management team for dual MENA focus

Carlyle Group announced today that it has promoted Can Deldag and Firas Nasir to co-heads of Carlyle MENA Partners. 

Deldağ , based in Istanbul, is head of Carlyle’s investment team in Turkey and Nasir, based in Dubai is head of Carlyle’s investment team in the GCC.

Deldağ and Nasir,   succeed Walid Mussallam, begin their duties immediately.

Carlysle has an impressive track record in the aerospace and defence sectors although has exited a number of its investments in the sector in recent years. It still holds a stake in companies such as Arinc, RPK   Capital Management and Sequa. Arabian Aerospace reported this week that the company is also in the bidding for a shareholding in Turkey’s airport company TAV.  

Firas Nasir joined Carlyle in 2007 to lead the firm’s investment activities in the GCC.  Prior to joining Carlyle, Mr. Nasir specialized in Mergers & Acquisitions at Credit Suisse First Boston in New York and Silicon Valley, and UBS Investment Bank in San Francisco. Mr. Nasir earned his M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.S. from Columbia University in Mechanical Engineering.  

Deldağ joined Carlyle in 2007 to lead the firm’s investment activities in Turkey.  Prior to joining Carlyle, he was a senior partner and member of the management board at Ernst and Young where he was head of transaction advisory services for Turkey and head of M&A services for South East Europe. Prior to this, Mr. Deldağ was a partner at Arthur Andersen and Head of M&A for Turkey and the Balkan region. Mr. Deldağ earned his degree in management engineering from Istanbul Technical University.

David M. Rubenstein, Carlyle managing director and co-founder, said: “We continue to have significant confidence in the MENA region’s investment potential and are delighted that Can and Firas will co-lead Carlyle MENA Partners. They have successfully led the firm’s investment activities in Turkey and the GCC and will serve our investors well as we focus on these key markets.”  

Deldağ said: “I look forward to partnering with Firas to lead the team and emphasise our commitment to MENA region, where we continue to see excellent investment opportunity.”