Wilshire Private Markets Names Gary Gabriel Managing Director Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Region

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Wilshire Private Markets, a business unit of Wilshire Associates (Wilshire®), today announced the appointment of proven private markets professional Gary Gabriel as Managing Director responsible for the Asia-Pacific region and head of the firm's Canberra office.

Gabriel joins Wilshire from the Future Fund Management Agency, a $67 billion plan established in 2006 to fund the pensions of Australia's Federal Government employees, where he was Head of Private Markets. He brings more than 15 years of investment industry experience, including nine years of private markets leadership and fund of funds experience.

"We are very pleased to welcome Gary Gabriel to the Wilshire team," said Lawrence E. Davanzo, president of Wilshire Associates. "We are looking to Gary to help us re-establish our prominent role in private markets in Australia and Asia-Pacific. His extensive experience and strong reputation in the industry will ensure that investors are fully aware of Wilshire's capabilities across our range of services, including investment consulting, funds management and analytics."

Gabriel was recruited after a lengthy search conducted by SpencerStuart, one of the world's leading executive search firms. Through his role at Future Fund, where he built a private markets team of 14 professionals, as well as his previous experience at other prominent organizations, he developed a keen understanding of private markets investment opportunities in Australia and on a global basis.  

Prior to the Future Fund, Gabriel was Head of Private Markets at UniSuper Management PTY Ltd., one of Australia's largest superannuation funds, with more than 350,000 members and $24 billion in funds under management.  He previously spent time as an asset consultant at Mercer Investment Consulting.

"Gary Gabriel is a highly regarded member of the private markets community in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region, and is a valuable addition to our growing team," said Kevin Nee, president of Wilshire Private Markets. "We've added tremendous talent to our private markets team this year, and we know that Gary will bring his expertise to bear in building the Wilshire brand in the Asia-Pacific market."

Born and raised in South Africa, Gabriel immigrated to Australia in 1995. There, he established himself as a premier player in the private investment community. "I've dedicated my career to the investment field and more specifically, to private markets and fund of funds," said Gabriel. "I'm looking forward to bringing that experience to Wilshire Private Markets and building our presence in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region."

About Wilshire Associates

Wilshire Associates, a leading global independent investment consulting and services firm, provides consulting services, analytics solutions and customized investment products to plan sponsors, investment managers and financial intermediaries. Its business units include Wilshire Analytics, Wilshire Consulting, Wilshire Funds Management and Wilshire Private Markets.

The firm was founded in 1972, revolutionizing the industry by pioneering the application of investment analytics and research to investment management for the institutional marketplace. Wilshire is credited with helping to develop the field of quantitative investment analysis that uses mathematical tools to analyze market risks. All other business units evolved from Wilshire's strong analytics foundation. Wilshire developed the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index(SM), one of the first asset/liability models for pension funds, the first U.S. equity style metrics work and many other "firsts" as the firm grew to approximately 350 employees serving the investment needs of institutional and high net worth clients around the world.

Based in Santa Monica, California, Wilshire provides services to clients in more than 20 countries representing approximately 600 organizations. With ten offices on four continents, Wilshire Associates and its affiliates are dedicated to providing clients with the highest quality counsel, products and services. Wilshire is a registered service mark of Wilshire Associates Incorporated. Please visit http://www.wilshire.com/ for more information.

SOURCE Wilshire Associates