Vado Private has welcomed a new director and head of funds management to its team as it seeks to grow its presence in the Australian private credit market.
The Sydney-based investment manager has appointed Mark Zukerman to fill the senior role.
He will also become a member of the Vado investment committee, the firm stated, to support the pipeline of investment opportunities in corporate debt as the demand for credit rises.
Zukerman will construct and implement all investment strategies, oversee asset allocation and risk management while being responsible for fund performance and reporting at Vado Private. This includes tracking fund performance against benchmarks and overseeing the distribution of its investment products to investors.
The incoming director joins from boutique fund manager Carson Capital Holdings, serving as director of capital markets for four years. In this position, Zukerman specialised in structuring and arranging funding for large-scale residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Prior to this, he also held roles at other global commercial lending and corporate banking firms, such as Centennial Property Group, Australian Unity and Ahli United Bank.
“As we embark on our next phase of growth, Mark will contribute to the strategic direction of the business and the growth of funds under management,” commented Simon Arraj, founder and responsible manager at Vado Private.
“He is a strategic addition to our leadership team and brings extensive credit experience to Vado Private, as well as deep relationships with investors and borrowers.”
In addition to overseeing all funds that Vado develops, Zukerman will also work on capital raisings, which includes engaging with investors, institutional clients and stakeholders for new and existing private credit funds, Arraj added.
Commenting on the growth of the sector, Zukerman said: “The Australian private credit market has grown rapidly and is poised for sustained growth this year, supported by favourable regulatory conditions, increasing investor interest, and the ongoing need for flexible financing solutions among borrowers.
“As the private credit market matures, it is expected to continue reshaping the lending landscape by providing innovative and adaptable financing options that cater to the evolving needs of both borrowers and investors seeking income.”
Vado Private was established in 2017 with a specialist focus on providing private credit solutions to property investors, property developers and business owners. It has since funded more than $500 million in loans across over 230 transactions, according to the firm.
Earlier this year, Natixis Investment Managers’ 2025 Wealth Industry Survey canvassed 520 individuals responsible for running investment platforms and managing client assets in 20 countries.
Alongside growing their service offering (56 per cent) and tapping into new client segments (48 per cent) to drive growth, nearly half (48 per cent) of wealth managers said meeting client demand for private markets would be a “critical factor” in their expansion plans, the report said.
