Igor

Igor is a Senior Vice President in the Direct Investments Group of the Private Equity department. Based in the New York office, his primary responsibility is to discover new opportunities for private equity investments in partnership with other parties. Once an opportunity is identified, he leads the team that carries out due diligence and presents a valuation and sizing proposal to the investment committee. After the acquisition, he takes charge of GIC’s efforts to assist management in generating value from the investment. For larger investments, he often joins the investee company’s Board of Directors. 

Outside of work, Igor is all about family. His weekends are filled with cheering on his kids at their soccer games, even though they are already better at the sport than he could ever dream of being. 

Why did you decide to join GIC?

One of my closest friends is a long-time GIC employee who started in the Direct Investments Group under the Private Equity department, and eventually moved to a different part of the organisation. He had been singing GIC’s praises for years, telling me how the firm has a strong collaborative culture and a top-notch private equity direct investment platform with unparalleled visibility into private markets. When the Direct Investments Group was looking for someone at my level and I was ready to move on from my previous job, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to reach out and express my interest in joining the team. 

Even though I should have known better, given all the insight I had into the organisation prior to joining, I still had the perception that GIC, as a sovereign wealth fund, was slow, rigid, and bureaucratic. However, I was disabused of that notion shortly after I joined. While we are prudent with our decision-making, I found that our committees are open to new ideas and able to quickly react to changing environments and deal dynamics.  

What does your typical workday look like?

Every morning, I kick-start my day by getting my kids ready for school. I use my commute to catch up on the latest news and sort through emails that came in overnight. But once I am in the office, no two days are ever the same. I am constantly on the move, talking to management teams and counterparties to identify new opportunities, leading diligence sessions on exciting new ventures, and engaging in board discussions. It is a fast-paced environment that keeps me on my toes, but I love every minute of it. Lunch is certainly a highlight of the day! Not only because of the great taco options in Midtown Manhattan, but because at the Direct Investments Group, we often eat as a group and take a break from work to chat about anything and everything. 

What do you like most about working here?

The collaborative culture at GIC is my favourite aspect of the organisation. Having worked at several organisation across my career and seen different approaches, I have a real appreciation for how unique and special our culture is. One significant example that exemplifies our collaborative culture was when my team led an independent underwrite of a large stake in a healthcare company. Collaboration was at the heart of the project. The opportunity came in through the Secondaries team, but everyone was aligned that the Direct Investments Group was the right home for the opportunity. In other organisations, this type of situation could potentially lead to conflict. 

After our initial bid, we leveraged GIC’s stellar reputation as a trusted and reliable partner to secure exclusivity during the 5-week diligence process. Our deal team moved quickly to diligence the opportunity, and our investment committee enabled us to meet the timeline set out. Furthermore, we had close and longstanding relationships with the non-selling shareholders who would be our partners post-transaction. All of this enabled us to close the deal on the exact terms and timeline we offered to secure our exclusivity, thus further cementing our reputation as a reliable and nimble counterparty. 

How would you describe the learning & development culture at GIC?

I have personally witnessed GIC’s dedication to the growth and development of its employees. Our Global Foundation Programme is a significant personal leadership programme for new employees or those who have recently been promoted. It has been an invaluable resource in preparing me for my role as a manager. However, informal learning has been equally, if not more, beneficial. There is a strong culture of mentorship within our team and the wider organisation, which has played a significant role in my growth and development over the past few years. Additionally, I appreciate that I was given the opportunity to take on more responsibilities as I progressed within the organisation, without being restricted by my functional title. 

What you should know before joining GIC

If you are considering a career at GIC, do not hesitate to reach out to current and former employees. From my experience, most of us here love to share our insights and help others learn more about our organisation. Who knows, it could be the first step towards an exciting new career at GIC!