Existing members of the Katonah Capital team, including Lee Shames-Maude, senior analyst and principal, Leslie O'Donnell, senior trader and principal, Karen Paneggiante, associate, and Ralph Della Rocca, director of portfolio operations and compliance, will be leaving the firm June 30. Three other administrative staff members are also leaving.
Chris Lacovara, Kohlberg & Co. principal, confirmed employees were leaving but would not identify them. Katonah will be launching a new fund and has been hiring new people, he said. Lacovara would not release their names until that launch date. E.A. Kratzman joined Katonah from Rabobank in May to manage the new funds the firm will be raising.
Lacovara said the departing employees had signed a pre-existing contract following the departure of Joyce DeLucca, and other employees, to form Kingsland Capital, that they would manage Katonah funds and complete their transfers. Sankaty Advisors took over the second, third and fourth deals, INVESCO Senior Secured Management became the replacement for the fifth deal and Blackstone Debt Advisors took over the first and the sixth deals. Calls to the Katonah employees were referred to Lacovara.