Blackstone appoints former Kirkbi CIO as Nordic adviser amid €500bn Europe investment plan

Blackstone Inc. has appointed Thomas Schleicher, former Chief Investment Officer of Kirkbi A/S, as Senior Adviser for the Nordic region, according to Private Equity Insights. The move strengthens the firm’s presence in Northern Europe as it pursues plans to invest up to $500 billion across the continent over the next decade. Schleicher will support origination, investor engagement and regional strategy, deepening Blackstone’s access to Nordic markets and institutions.

Nordic market strategy and Europe investment

The appointment reflects Blackstone’s intention to scale its activities in Europe by reinforcing local expertise. Schleicher brings experience from overseeing investments at Kirkbi, the holding and investment company of Denmark’s Kirk Kristiansen family, which controls the Lego Group and manages substantial long-term capital. His background includes asset allocation, portfolio construction and partnerships across private equity, real estate and infrastructure.

At Blackstone, he will act as a senior adviser focused on the Nordic countries, working alongside existing investment teams. His role is expected to centre on strengthening relationships with institutional investors, sourcing new opportunities and advising on regional market dynamics. The firm has indicated that local insight is increasingly important as competition for assets intensifies and regulatory environments evolve across Europe.

The hire comes as part of a broader European build-out. Blackstone has been adding senior figures across its European operations in recent months, signalling a coordinated effort to expand deployment capabilities. According to Private Equity Insights, the firm’s long-term target of investing up to $500 billion in Europe underlines the scale of its ambitions and the importance it assigns to the region.

The Nordic countries represent an attractive market for global investors due to stable regulatory systems, advanced digital infrastructure and a strong base of institutional capital. By appointing a well-connected regional executive, Blackstone appears to be positioning itself to compete more effectively for large transactions and partnerships in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Background Europe investment context

Blackstone has already completed significant transactions in the Nordic region. Among the most prominent was the acquisition of Adevinta ASA, an Oslo-listed online classifieds group, in partnership with Permira. That deal underscored the firm’s willingness to pursue large-scale investments in Northern Europe and to collaborate with other private equity sponsors.

In addition to buyouts, the firm has invested in digital infrastructure projects in the region, including data centre developments aimed at supporting growing demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services. These sectors align with broader European investment themes such as digitalisation and energy transition, which have become priorities for long-term capital deployment.

The expansion of advisory capacity also corresponds with public statements made by Blackstone’s leadership about Europe’s strategic importance. The firm has described the continent as offering structural growth opportunities, particularly in infrastructure, real estate and corporate private equity. The decision to appoint a Nordic adviser suggests that regional depth is seen as essential to delivering on these commitments.

More broadly, global alternative asset managers have been strengthening their European operations in response to shifting capital flows and investor appetite for private markets. Europe’s combination of mature economies and reform-driven sectors provides opportunities for both operational improvements and long-term value creation.

Blackstone’s appointment of Thomas Schleicher as Nordic Senior Adviser marks a measured step in executing its European growth strategy. By drawing on his institutional investment experience and regional networks, the firm aims to enhance its ability to originate and structure transactions in Northern Europe. The move aligns with a broader objective to deploy substantial capital across Europe over the coming decade. As competition for assets increases and investment strategies become more specialised, regional expertise is likely to play a central role in how global firms translate capital commitments into completed deals.