EQT’s nomination committee has proposed Jean Eric Salata, founder of Baring Private Equity Asia (BPEA), as the next chairperson of its board, per a company statement.
Salata, who joined the group following the 2022 EQT-BPEA merger and is currently EQT Asia’s chairman, is set to succeed Conni Jonsson about three decades after the latter founded the group that now manages 266 billion euro ($311 billion) in assets.
The plan is subject to approval at EQT’s Annual Shareholders’ Meeting in May 2026, and regulatory approvals.
Salata also oversees the group’s private capital, infrastructure, and real estate strategies across the region. Under his leadership, EQT Asia has deployed more than $35 billion across 180 transactions and raised some of Asia’s largest private market funds.
The group is currently raising its flagship pan-Asia fund that has a hardcap of $14.5 billion.
Should Salata be elected, he would concurrently chair the group and its Asia operations, where he will remain as chair of its investment committee. He would also be working alongside months-old CEO Per Franzén, who replaced Christian Sinding earlier this year.
Jonsson, who founded EQT in 1994 and has led the firm’s transformation from a 300 million euro Nordic fund manager to one of the world’s largest private equity firms, will stay on as honorary chair and founder, remaining active in the EQT Council and EQT Foundation.
“We have always worked tirelessly to develop the next generation of leaders, as professional succession planning is key to long-term success. I know EQT is in the best hands possible, so I have decided that now is the right time to step down,” Jonsson said.
“Jean knows what it takes to build and lead a high-performing, cross-border, multi-asset class business through cycles, and Per Franzén is an exceptional investor who has shown outstanding leadership throughout his time at EQT,” he added.
EQT’s Nomination Committee consists of Jacob Wallenberg (Chairperson), appointed by Investor AB; Cynthia Lee, appointed by Jean Eric Salata; Harry Klagsbrun, appointed by Conni Jonsson; Joachim Spetz, appointed by Swedbank Robur Funds; and Conni Jonsson, Chairperson of EQT’s Board. The committee’s complete proposals for the Annual Shareholders’ Meeting 2026 will be announced later.
