3i, the private equity firm, has sharpened its pan-European focus by putting the UK, the German-speaking countries and the Nordic region under single management led by Chris Rowlands.

Rowlands joins 3i from Arthur Andersen, the accountant, to oversee the European business. The UK business had previously been managed separately from the rest of Europe although the teams have worked closely on cross border business. Brian Larcombe, 3i's chief executive, said: "The change will give us an opportunity to manage Europe as a single integrated group. That is a positive thing for us."