Vivo Capital Appoints Neetesh Kumar as Managing Partner to Co-Lead Private Equity Strategy in the U.S.

Veteran private markets investor will help establish New York presence for healthcare specialist

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vivo Capital (“Vivo” or the “Firm”), a leading global healthcare investment firm, today announced the appointment of Mr. Neetesh Kumar as Managing Partner. Mr. Kumar will co-lead Vivo’s buyout and private equity investment strategy with a focus in the U.S. market and help establish the Firm’s presence in New York.

Mr. Kumar brings more than 30 years of experience across private equity, growth equity, venture capital and credit. His appointment further strengthens Vivo’s senior investment leadership as the Firm builds on three decades of investing in healthcare and the life sciences.

With a foundation in engineering and computer science, Mr. Kumar brings particular expertise at the intersection of investment, technology and artificial intelligence. His perspective will help Vivo to identify and pursue a new set of emerging investment opportunities as AI and other technologies transform healthcare and create new avenues for growth.

“We have known Neetesh for close to 20 years and have long respected and admired his judgment and approach,” said Dr. Frank Kung, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Vivo Capital. “As we continue to build our growth and buyout strategy, Neetesh’s deep private markets experience and perspective will be valuable in helping us grow this important part of our business.”

“I am excited to join Vivo, one of the leading investment firms in the healthcare space, with a 30-year heritage and track record,” said Mr. Neetesh Kumar, Managing Partner, Vivo Capital. “The convergence of healthcare and technology is creating exciting new opportunities, along with greater demand for optimized cost structures in pharma supply chain and pharma services. I look forward to working with the exceptional team here to explore and deliver on those opportunities for the benefit of our investors.”

Mr. Kumar joins Vivo from Spruceview Capital Partners, where he served as a Partner and, most recently, Adviser, leading private markets investments with responsibility for more than $4 billion in assets. Previously, he held senior investment roles at J.P. Morgan Chase Retirement Plan, Rho Fund Investors, the University of California Investments, and growth buyout firms of One Equity and Banc One Capital Partners. Mr. Kumar began his career in technology, including as a founding team member of Vetri Systems and a Manager at Andersen Consulting, now Accenture. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and an MS in Computer Science from Wayne State University and has completed coursework at MIT in Artificial Intelligence in Pharma and Biotech, and Cell Therapy Biomanufacturing.

About Vivo Capital

Founded in 1996, Vivo Capital is a leading global healthcare investment firm with a diverse, multi-fund investment platform spanning venture capital, growth equity, buyout, and public equities. The Firm has approximately $7bn of capital actively managed across its multiple strategies and affiliated funds and has invested in over 460 public and private companies globally. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, with additional offices in Asia, the Vivo team consists of more than 70 multi-disciplinary professionals. Vivo invests broadly in healthcare across multiple sub-sectors, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and healthcare services, with a focus on the largest healthcare markets globally.