Bridges Ventures, the venture capital company with a social mission, has established an Advisory Board, which includes leading figures from the worlds of private equity, business, banking and asset management.

The board will meet twice a year and will help Bridges Ventures with strategic issues, as well as providing a forum for discussion about social investment more generally.   Members of the Advisory Board include:

Vernon Ellis, International Chairman of Accenture

Kamal Tabet, Global Head FEG, Citigroup

Sir Michael Peat, Principal Private Secretary to HRH the Prince of Wales

Philip Yea, Chief Executive of 3i

Harvey McGrath, Chairman of London First

John Reizenstein, Managing Director, Corporate & Markets, Co-operative Financial Services

David Blood, Managing Partner of Generation Management LLP

Tom Singh, Founder and Non-Executive Director of New Look

Lloyd Dorfman, Chairman of Travelex

Gordon Lawson, Founding Partner of Pendragon Capital

Brooks Newmark MP, former Partner of Apollo Management LP

Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Chairman of Noon Products

Dr Chai Patel, former Chief Executive of the Priory Group

Nicholas Woolf, Trustee of Barts and The London Charity

Bridges Ventures invests in ambitious entrepreneurial businesses that can deliver social or environmental benefits as well as attractive financial returns. These fall into two categories: regeneration businesses, which are located in the most deprived areas of the UK, where its money will help to bring prosperity and create/save jobs; and sustainable businesses, which are able to demonstrate strong intrinsic social benefit in sectors such as healthcare, education, the environment and ethical business.  

Sir Ronald Cohen, Chairman of Bridges Ventures, said:   “I am grateful that so many leading members of the business world are supporting Bridges Ventures by providing the benefit of their experience. The wisdom and knowledge that the Advisory Board members bring to the table will be of great benefit to Bridges in developing its future strategic thinking.”  

Philip Newborough, Chief Executive of Bridges Ventures, said:   “We are absolutely delighted with the make-up of the Advisory Board. We have a number of exciting plans for developing Bridges’ social mission while continuing to deliver strong financial returns to our investors and the Board will no doubt help us achieve this to our highest potential.”