SL Capital Partners has promoted three of its executives as it increases its focus on secondaries deals and North American investments and amid a generational shift at the influential European investor.

The Edinburgh-based private equity fund of funds, a subsidiary of Standard Life Investments, has promoted Patrick Knechtli and Mark Nicolson to the position of partner, and given Jamie Ebersole the post of managing director of the firm's US operation. All three positions have been newly created, and will be effective from January 1, 2013.