Michael Rogowski, president of the Federal Association of German Industries, has become the latest member of the Carlyle Group's European advisory board that includes John Major, the former UK prime minister, and James Baker, the former US Defense Secretary.

Carlyle follows a policy of appointing high-profile figures as a means to open the doors of potential investors and potential investment targets. Last week it appointed Louis Gerstner, the chairman of IBM, as its next chairman.