Morgan Stanley has appointed James Howland as a managing director and operating partner for Morgan Stanley Private Equity, the firm's global private equity business. Based in New York, Howland will assist to identify investment opportunities, as well as help assume management and strategic oversight for those opportunities.

Most recently, Howland served as president of Dun & Bradstreet International.

Alan Jones, co-head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity, said, “With his 22-year track record of success in building businesses across varied industry sectors, Jim is a seasoned executive whose strategic insights and network of relationships will considerably strengthen our portfolio company operational capabilities.”

To date, Morgan Stanley Private Equity and its predecessor funds have invested nearly $6.5 billion of equity across a broad spectrum of industries.