“Sustainability Is Value Creation”: Ardian’s Take on ESG as a Strategic Pillar in Private Equity

François Candelon, Partner for Value Creation & Portfolio Monitoring at Seven2, shares how the firm aligns every investment around a clear “exit animal”—a vision of the company at exit—and uses disciplined execution, AI-driven transformation, and sustainability as levers for resilience and premium valuations. From reengineering core processes with AI to embedding decarbonization into business strategy, Candelon explains how Seven2 builds companies that are not just exit-ready, but future-proof.

Private markets are entering a new era where trust, compliance, and technology converge. While public markets enjoy automation and transparency, private assets still depend on paper-based, fragmented systems. Antonio Chiarello, CEO of Weltix, argues that the next leap forward is not just digitization, but the creation of digital infrastructures that redefine ownership. In this conversation, he discusses why friction is structural rather than technological, how regulation enables innovation, and how programmable liquidity and transparency can channel more private capital into real economic growth.

Family offices are playing an increasingly active role in private markets, yet many still struggle with strategy, manager selection, investment discipline, and portfolio construction. In this interview, Ivan Nikkhoo, Managing Partner at N3 Capital and Navigate Ventures, shares his perspective on how family offices should approach private assets, why direct investing often leads to poor outcomes, and where opportunities lie in today’s market.