MENLO PARK, Calif. and NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Lake, a global leader in technology investing, announced today that Mark Gillett, departing Corporate Vice President for Skype and Lync at Microsoft, will re-join the firm as Managing Director and Head of Value Creation.  Mr. Gillett will lead the firm's value creation activities as Silver Lake professionals continue to partner with the senior management of portfolio companies to refine and evolve business and technology strategy, enhance operational performance and accelerate business transformation.

Mr. Gillett will succeed Charles Giancarlo, the current Head of Value Creation and a senior technology industry executive.  Mr. Giancarlo, who will remain with Silver Lake through the end of the year and then transition into an advisory role, plans to return to a technology industry operating role.

Mr. Gillett's appointment marks a homecoming to Silver Lake. Prior to joining Skype, the global communications platform, Mr. Gillett led the firm's value creation efforts in Europe, where he played an integral role in the Silver Lake-led investment in Skype.  He joined Skype as Chief Transformation Officer, subsequently taking the role of Chief Development and Operating Officer, and spearheaded the expansion of Skype's global development organization, more than doubling the team of product development engineers.  Mr. Gillett oversaw advances to the company's technology platform and global operations by supporting and enabling significant growth in users, engagement and revenue, and subsequently led Skype's integration into Microsoft following the company's acquisition in 2011.

"We are thrilled that Mark is returning to Silver Lake," said Managing Partner Egon Durban. "Mark's accomplishments at Skype have transformed the company. He is poised to make a significant contribution to our portfolio companies going forward." 

Managing Partner Ken Hao added: "We are incredibly grateful for Charlie's outstanding leadership in advancing our value creation strategy for more than half a decade, and we are gratified he has agreed to serve as a Senior Advisor and counselor for our value creation strategies." 

"I am delighted to return to Silver Lake to lead the firm's outstanding value creation team," said Mr. Gillett. "Silver Lake's unique industry focus and commitment to operational excellence, product innovation and dynamism at its portfolio companies is now part of the firm's DNA. Charlie has led and built the team in creating a tremendous foundation for our future engagement and partnership with portfolio companies to drive enduring value creation."

"I could not ask for a more accomplished successor than Mark," said Mr. Giancarlo. "Value creation is central to Silver Lake's investment strategy, and Mark's extensive operating experience, as well as his expertise in leading organizations through technology-driven growth and development, will be critical to advancing the operational performance of our portfolio companies." Mr. Giancarlo added: "I look forward to working with Mark and the value creation team through the transition." 

Mr. Gillett first joined Silver Lake in 2009 from Alvarez & Marsal where he served for four years and was a Managing Director responsible for leading A&M's practice in Technology, Telecoms and Business Services and growing its private equity services in Europe. 

About Silver LakeSilver Lake is a global leader in private investments in technology and technology-enabled industries. Silver Lake invests with the strategic and operational insights of an experienced industry participant. The firm has approximately 110 investment and value creation professionals located in New York, Menlo Park, San Mateo, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo and manages approximately $20 billion in combined assets under management. The Silver Lake Partners portfolio includes or has included technology and technology-enabled industry leaders such as Alibaba, Allyes, Ameritrade, Avago, Avaya, Business Objects, Flextronics, Gartner, Gerson Lehrman Group, Global Blue, Instinet, Intelsat, Interactive Data Corporation, IPC Systems, MCI, Mercury Payment Systems, MultiPlan, the NASDAQ OMX Group, NetScout, NXP, Sabre, Seagate Technology, Serena Software, Skype, Spreadtrum, SunGard Data Systems, UGS, Vantage Data Centers and William Morris Endeavor. For more information about Silver Lake and its entire portfolio, please visit www.silverlake.com. 

SOURCE Silver Lake

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