Collins, based in Singapore, joined Vistra in 2023 as global head of M&A to lead the establishment of Vistra’s M&A function, including deal sourcing, execution, integration and value creation. Now, as a member of Vistra’s executive leadership team, he will be responsible for driving inorganic growth and corporate development activities, working together with other parts of the business to achieve Vistra’s long-term strategic growth goals, the firm said in a statement.

Collins, who has over 20 years’ global professional experience, began his career in M&A advisory and corporate finance, where he spent a decade with PricewaterhouseCoopers based in Asia-Pacific, advising corporate and private equity clients on M&A, divestments and capital raisings before moving into private equity at the portfolio level in 2016. As part of the executive management team of a global logistics technology company, Containerchain, Collins’ roles included chief corporate development officer, COO and ultimately managing director, prior to leading its successful exit by Australia’s CHAMP Private Equity to WiseTech Global (ASX:WTC) in 2019.

Prior to joining Vistra, Chris was head of South-East Asia for Potential Capital, an Asia-Pacific mid-market private equity firm focused on technology and services investing, a non-executive director for a growth stage technology company, Shippit, supporting the business with its international expansion into Asia and a strategic advisor to several private equity and venture capital firms in Asia-Pacific on portfolio company value creation.

“Chris has made a significant positive contribution to the business since arriving just over a year ago. He’s successfully executed on three acquisitions, most recently Phoenix American’s fund administration and transfer agency business, expanding our presence and capabilities in the US market,” Group CEO Simon Webster said. “As we move into our next two-year era focused on growth acceleration, his executive level experience and outstanding track record in corporate development, M&A and business growth, both as a former advisor and private equity professional, will be invaluable in helping us to deliver our value creation objectives.”

Collins is a chartered accountant (CANZ) who holds a master of applied finance from Macquarie University, Australia and bachelor degrees in commerce and social sciences from Curtin University, Western Australia.