In a move to continue to build its team and experience, Huntsman Gay Global Capital, a middle-market private equity firm, announced the official appointment of Jim Learner as a managing partner, and the promotion of three current executives to principal.

During a 25-year career at global law firm Kirkland & Ellis, Learner principally represented private equity funds in over 200 transactions involving acquisitions, divestitures, financings and fund formation activities, and was a member of its 15-person firm-wide Management Committee. He was most recently in charge of the firm’s European operations, working from London on U.S., European and global transactions. Learner earned an AB cum laude in Economics from the University of Michigan in 1984 and a JD from Harvard Law School in 1987.

“We are very pleased to welcome Jim and add his talents to our strong, diverse team,” said managing partner Gary Crittenden. “In addition to his executive leadership experience, Jim’s broad global network will be valuable as we continue to help our U.S. portfolio companies expand globally. Having worked on our transaction that merged Montreal-based iCongo with Munich-based hybris Software, Jim already has a great understanding of our strategy.”

Huntsman Gay also announced that it has promoted three senior vice presidents – Jacob Hodgman, Hudson Smith and Neil White – to principal. Hodgman and Smith are based in the firm’s Palo Alto office while White is based in the firm’s West Palm Beach, FL office.

Hodgman has been with the firm since its inception in 2007 and sits on the Boards of Directors of portfolio companies Innovative Interfaces and Hollander. Prior to Huntsman Gay, Hodgman worked at Sorenson Capital, where he focused on a wide range of investments in the middle market; and as a senior analyst in the Investment Banking Division of Citigroup where he focused primarily on mergers and acquisitions.

Smith, who came to Huntsman Gay in 2009, has been involved in the firm’s investments in iQor, Mama Rosa’s, Sunquest and hybris, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. Prior to Huntsman Gay, Smith was a manager at Bain & Company in the Dallas and Sydney, Australia offices, working with companies in business services, software, telecommunications, aerospace, consumer products and private equity. He previously served as an investment banking analyst and associate at Lincoln International, which specializes in mergers and acquisitions and raising private capital.

White joined Huntsman Gay in 2009 and has worked on investments including iQor and Gee Holdings, where he currently serves on the Board of Directors. Before joining Huntsman Gay, he worked in the private equity group at Och-Ziff Capital Management and at Bain Capital where he was involved with the acquisitions of CRC Health Group, Toys R Us, and SunGard Data Systems. He started his career at the Boston Consulting Group in Dallas.