Candover, the European private equity firm, has hired Kurt Kinzius, the controversial former director of Mannesmann, to establish its first German office in Düsseldorf.

Kinzius has been appointed to originate deals in German-speaking countries for the UK-listed firm, which focuses on large European buy-outs. Kinzius, who was a Mannesmann board director responsible for mergers and acquisitions between January and July 2000, will bring contacts, ideas for M&A strategies. He will also tackle the differences between German and UK views on business.