NEW YORK and PARIS, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Meridiam, the leading global investor and asset manager specializing in public and community infrastructure, announced today that Gordon Bajnai, former Prime Minister of Hungary, will be joining the firm as Group Chief Operating Officer (Directeur General) working closely with Thierry Deau, Meridiam's founder and CEO. He will be based in Meridiam's Paris headquarters and will oversee asset management activities and direct the firm's business development functions. Mr. Bajnai has been a member of Meridiam's Supervisory Board since 2011.

Gordon Bajnai, 46, an economist and businessman, was born in Hungary. From April 2009 until May 2010, he served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Hungary leading a technocratic Government in charge of stabilizing the country during severe financial and political crisis. Earlier, he held positions as Minister at the Ministry of National Development and Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Local Government. Previously, as head of the National Development Agency, he was in charge of the seven-year 25bn Euro public investment program in Hungary sponsored by the European Union's structural funds.

Between 2000 and the end of 2005, he was CEO of Wallis Group, the leading Hungarian investment company, where he was responsible for management and transformation of the firm. Between 1995 and 2000, he was Managing Director and Deputy CEO of Creditanstalt Investment Bank in Budapest. In addition, over the past decade and a half, Mr. Bajnai has served with Budapest Airport as Chairman on behalf of the British airport operator, BAA, Zwack Unicum Plc as a member of the Supervisory Board, Danubius Radio (Daily Mail Group) and Raba Plc as a member of their Boards of Directors, and Equinox Private Equity Fund as a member of the Investment Board.

He graduated from the Budapest University of Economic Sciences in 1991. In recent years he has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, as well as a Visiting Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. He also serves as a Senior Advisor at the Center for International Studies and is a member of the European Center on Foreign Relations.

"We could not be more pleased to have Gordon joining the firm's leadership to serve as Group Chief Operating Officer. His depth of experience as an effective bridge between the private and public sectors will be a valuable asset to the company and to our continued infrastructure success," declared Meridiam Founder/CEO Thierry Deau.

"Gordon will bring valuable firsthand experience on the importance of infrastructure as a vector for stable and sustainable economic development," added Jane Garvey, Chairman, Meridiam North America.

About Meridiam

Founded in 2005, Meridiam is an independent investment firm specialized in the development, financing, and management of long-term public infrastructure projects. With offices in Paris, New York, Toronto and Istanbul, Meridiam is the leading investor in public infrastructure in Europe and North America. Currently managing €2.8 billion ($3.5 billion) of assets, the firm has to date invested in 32 projects. Designated Global Infrastructure Fund of the Year for the third time in 2012, Meridiam was also the first investor and asset manager to receive ISO 9001 certification.

To learn more: www.meridiam.com

SOURCE Meridiam