Emma has over 8 years of experience in developing and promoting businesses in the private investment arena. With a journalism degree, Emma brings her communication skills to Growthdeck.
Steve is an experienced corporate financier with nineteen years’ lead advisory experience, firstly with Grant Thornton and latterly with Mazars LLP. His corporate finance experience was predominantly with owner managed businesses and he is now focussing on investments in early stage entrepreneurial businesses.
Co-founded Growthdeck while Principal of Lexicon, a specialist digital agency. He has developed online products and channels for many financial institutions including Barclays, Coutts, UBS, Credit Suisse and Standard & Poor’s.
Jane has over 18 years of relationship management experience within financial services, having worked for Credit Suisse Private Bank, Investec Bank, Bloomberg, Royal Bank of Scotland and Friends Provident. As Relationship Director, she is responsible for cultivating relationships with Growthdeck investors and acting as a point of contact for investment related enquiries. If you would like to know more about any aspect of our service please don’t hesitate to get in touch with her.
Simon has venture capital experience from both sides of the fence, as an experienced investor and as a director of VC backed technology businesses. A Stanford MBA, Simon was a founding partner of Hotbed, which became the UK’s leading private investor network. He is also an FCA who has specialised in corporate finance with Grant Thornton and as an independent advisor.
Ceri is a highly experienced executive with a career spanning banking, construction and public sector roles, latterly as CIO at Laing O’Rourke. She is a qualified accountant and a graduate of the Harvard Advanced Management Programme.
Matthew has focused on growth businesses for over 25 years. He combines operational experience from CFO, COO and corporate development roles with a background in corporate finance lead advisory and private equity investment. He also co-founded and grew a business from concept to £45m turnover in just three years. Matthew is equally at home on the water, either above kitesurfing or below scuba diving.
Gabrielle is an intern in our Investment team. She has experience in international business and the private equity arena, as well as in dealing with client relations. Gabrielle is currently pursuing a Master’s in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, USA. When she is not crunching numbers, you can find her pulling an all-nighter to binge-watch her favourite Netflix series.
A corporate lawyer with extensive experience of advising on early stage ventures, buy-outs, exits and fundraises. Ian has been closely involved in the planning and development of several private investor businesses.
Sylvia has spent the last 10 years working with high net worth investors and entrepreneurs. As Relationship Director, she is responsible for cultivating relationships with Growthdeck investors and acting as a point of contact for investment related enquiries. If you would like to know more about any aspect of our service please don’t hesitate to get in touch with her.
Paul has 10 years’ experience advising entrepreneurial SME clients across many sectors, running the corporate finance departments of a Top 15 accountancy practice and a private equity boutique. Building on his nanotechnology and fuel cell research at Oxford University he focuses on the technology, engineering, medical and renewable energy sectors.
Gary has been in the private equity arena for 30 years. After an MBA from Cranfield School of Management, he spent 15 years with 3i plc as an Investment Director. He went on to found two high profile private investor businesses (Hotbed and Rockpool Investments) which specialised in EIS investments.
An experienced business manager and entrepreneur, originally from a senior position internationally with ICI, Graham set up AIMS Group in 1993, growing this into one of the largest health and safety compliance consultancies in the UK, which he sold to Alfred McAlpine in 2003. Graham was one of the founding directors of Scotia Wind, which was sold to Gaz De France in 2008, and is currently the CEO of Burcote Wind, an independent renewable energy company that specialises in onshore wind projects.
Sophie joined Growthdeck back in late 2015 as a Client Services Administrator and progressed over the year to Client Services Executive whilst studying a legal secretarial course. In early 2018 Sophie was awarded a Level 3 Legal Secretary Diploma and as well as assisting the Client Services team, took up the position of PA to the Executive Directors providing support at Board level.
Shaz is a chartered accountant (FCA) and has had an extensive career in M&A, fundraising and strategy as an advisor and an investor. He specialises in helping businesses grow and sits on the board of several companies and has co-founded several businesses. Shaz has his greatest ideas when mindlessly running, swimming or cycling.
When Sigrida isn’t busy being Growthdeck’s resident photographer, she can be found designing marketing collateral, working on email campaigns, or updating the Growthdeck website. With a strong interest in finance, she previously worked in accounts and is currently studying towards her AAT accountancy qualification.
Maureen has extensive administrative and secretarial/PA experience at senior management level. Coming from a background in the corporate legal profession, where she previously assisted on investment deals and building good client relationships, she now brings excellent organisational skills to Growthdeck. In her spare time, Maureen likes to play badminton and volunteers for local charities. She has also been told that she has a contagious laugh!
Lucien is a chartered accountant, experienced investor and entrepreneur. He has owned and managed numerous businesses in the medical and education sectors, and specialises in bringing new technologies to market. Lucien is also a pure mathematician and philosopher.
Layla has extensive client service experience having worked for a provider of SIPP's, SSAS's and Corporate Workplace Pensions, as well as spending seven years with a leading private investor firm as Office Manager and Client Services Executive.
With a true passion for Private Equity and a great network with overseas HNW investors, Samuel set up and manages the Overseas Investors arm of Growthdeck. This is dedicated to building the bridge between overseas investors and private equity investments in the UK. Prior to Growthdeck, Samuel started his career in the City with UBS, before moving on to Rockpool Investments LLP. Samuel holds the Investment Management Certificate.
Carolyn has many years of client relationship management experience in the regulated alternative investment arena. With a background in the legal and corporate finance professions, Carolyn brings a wealth of procedural expertise to Growthdeck.
Andrea has many years of relationship management experience within the telecoms, financial and professional services sectors. As a Relationship Director, she is responsible for cultivating relationships with Growthdeck investors and acting as a point of contact for investment related enquiries. If you would like to know more about any aspect of our service please don’t hesitate to get in touch with her.
Yuan started his career with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and later joined a property development company involved in projects in Beijing and Shenzhen. Following his move to the UK, Yuan started investing in UK property and has also developed a real passion for start-up businesses with investments in financial and medical businesses.
Ally has degrees in both Mandarin Chinese and International Relations. She has worked as a Business Analyst for a consulting firm in America, where she discovered her passion for supporting small business growth.