Tikehau Group, the French debt specialist set up by former Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs bankers, has hired two new executives to its Paris office to increase its coverage of direct lending and the Italian market.

The Paris-based firm said on Tuesday that it has hired Nathalie Bleunven from mezzanine fund Indigo Capital France to focus on developing its direct lending business. She was previously at Societe Generale from 1987 to 2013, holding various roles including managing director with responsibility for mid-cap buyouts and acquisitions.