Cambridge Associates, the institutional investment adviser, has boosted the private markets expertise in its European pensions team by hiring the head of private equity at energy giant BP's in-house scheme manager, in response to growing pension-fund interest in the area.

Vicky Williams has joined Cambridge Associates as a senior investment director in the pensions practice, according to a statement on June 8 from the advisory firm. She will be responsible for advising UK and European pension-scheme clients on their private investment portfolios.