Bridges Ventures expands team with four senior appointments
Bridges Ventures (‘Bridges’) has today announced it has expanded its team with four senior appointments. The new hires join Bridges at a crucial time for the firm, following the recent successful close of its third Sustainable Growth Fund at £125m, a series of strong exits and the expansion of its fund range. Founded in 2002, […]
Bridges Ventures (‘Bridges’) has today announced it has expanded its team with four senior appointments. The new hires join Bridges at a crucial time for the firm, following the recent successful close of its third Sustainable Growth Fund at £125m, a series of strong exits and the expansion of its fund range.
Founded in 2002, Bridges is dedicated exclusively to using an impact-driven investment approach to create superior returns for both investors and society at-large. The fund manager currently manages over £340m across three fund types: Sustainable Growth, Property and Social Sector funds.
Paul Richings has joined as Chief Financial Officer responsible for ensuring Bridges’ accounting and financial capabilities continue to respond to the needs of a growing, multi-asset fund manager.
The Sustainable Growth Funds team has been expanded with three appointments: Oliver Wyncoll (Partner), Khidhr Shafiq (Associate) and Mark Blower (Investment Director). The new joiners will complement and strengthen the existing team by focusing on identifying investment opportunities where commercial success can go hand-in-hand with impact.
Philip Newborough, Partner and Co-Founder at Bridges Ventures, said: “Bridges has gone through a period of rapid growth and we are pleased to see that our investment approach and philosophy continues to attract highly experienced people from the worlds of investment, finance and entrepreneurship. This is a really exciting time for us as we start to invest our third sustainable growth fund and we are delighted to welcome these talented individuals into our team.”
New team members – Bios
Paul Richings, CFO, has over 20 years of experience in the investment management industry and joins Bridges from Langholm Capital, where he was partner having started at the firm as CFO at its inception in 2002. Prior to Langholm Capital, Paul worked at Mercury Asset Management and, following its acquisition, at Merrill Lynch. Paul qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), where he worked primarily on the audit of investment management firms. Paul has a degree in economics from Cambridge University.
Oliver Wyncoll, Partner, has extensive experience in the consumer sector, as both a lender and an equity investor to SMEs. In his new role he will focus on identifying high growth sub-sectors and entrepreneurial businesses, in which Bridges can invest. Oliver joins from Langholm Capital where he was partner and a board director on all of the fund’s UK companies, which included Dorset Cereals and Tyrrells Crisps. Prior to joining Langholm Capital in 2002, Oliver worked at Rabobank from 1996, establishing their London acquisition finance business. Before Rabobank, Oliver worked at HSBC and BZW, the former investment banking arm of Barclays Bank PLC.
Khidhr Shafiq, Associate, will work closely with portfolio companies and also focuses on appraising new investment opportunities. He joins Bridges from Deloitte, having worked in the Assurance and Corporate Finance departments for the past five years. During this time he specialised in business modelling and advised on M&A, refinancing and special situation deals across the UK and Europe. He has been involved in several start-ups and currently sits on the board of a games design studio that he co-launched. Khidhr holds a BSc Honours in Economics from University College London and is an ACA qualified Chartered Accountant.
Mark Blower, Investment Director, joins Bridges from Gresham Private Equity where he was a Partner for four years and responsible for new investments and deal origination activities. Prior to joining Gresham, Mark was Head of North West acquisition finance team at Lloyds Banking Group where he led the team’s coverage of private equity firms to secure new lending opportunities. Before that he worked for Rothschild as Head of Acquisition Finance, responsible for deal origination.
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Press contact
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Notes to Editors
Bridges Ventures (www.bridgesventures.com)
Bridges Ventures LLP (“Bridges Ventures”) is a specialist fund manager dedicated to using an impact-driven investment approach to create superior returns for both investors and society at large. Bridges Ventures has raised seven funds to date which total £340m: Sustainable Growth Funds I, II and III, the Bridges Sustainable Property Fund, the CarePlaces Fund, the Bridges Social Entrepreneurs Fund and the Bridges Social Impact Bond Fund.