Gary Pinkus

Global Private Equity Outlook

Gary Pinkus, John Connaughton, Bruce Flatt, Jonathan Nelson, David Rubenstein

Leading private equity executives including Bruce Flatt, David Rubenstein, and John Connaughton convened to analyze a sector at a record peak of $4.7 trillion in assets under management, emphasizing a strategic shift from financial engineering to operational value creation in emerging markets and U.S. infrastructure. The panel identified populism and regulatory uncertainty as key risks but concluded that the industry is resilient due to its ability to generate stable returns for pension funds and its capacity to navigate global trade dynamics. Future success will depend on adapting distinct operating models, such as Brookfield's public vehicle structure or Carlyle's partnership approach, to compete with rising capital sources like family offices and sovereign wealth funds.