GE Commercial Finance's Media, Communications & Entertainment business and NBC Universal have appointed Thomas M. Byrne, 40, as managing director of the $250m Peacock Equity Fund.

Megumi Ikeda, 37, has been named as London-based executive director, reporting to Byrne.

Peacock Equity, a joint venture between GE and NBC Universal, invests in international media and technology companies. Its first investment, for online advertisement services company Adify, was announced in April 2007.

Byrne is a veteran of GE, ABN AMRO and Royal Bank of Canada.

Michael Chen, president and CEO, GE - Media, Communications & Entertainment, said: 'Tom's sector insight and leadership will help fuel the Fund's success and continue the collaborative momentum that the GE and NBC Universal teams have created.'

Ikeda was formerly VP of strategic initiatives and new media for NBC Universal and previously worked for Time Warner, Conde Nast and Dow Jones.

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