William E Conway Jr

With Daniel D'Aniello and David Rubenstein, leaders of leveraged buyout outfit Carlyle Group, smarting from collapse of hedge fund and mortgage bond fund operations. Hedge fund Carlyle-Blue Wave Partners launched in April 2007; lost 17% in first 8 months, shut down in August. Amsterdam-listed Carlyle Capital defaulted on $16.6 billion of loans in March as housing market soured. Founded Carlyle 1987; used politically connected advisers to buy defense-oriented companies, turn them around, sell for profit. Vilified in Michael Moore?s Fahrenheit 9/11 for investing Bin Laden family money; rehabbing image since. Today firm manages $90 billion across 64 funds. Funds have returned more than 30% a year since inception.