Real Deals has named Michele Giddens, Bridges partner and co-founder, as one of the top 20 most influential people in the global private equity industry.

The publication points out that when Bridges was launched in 2002, the idea of a private equity firm trying to “deliver a profit at the same time as making a social impact” met with a lot of scepticism – whereas today, “investors and dealmakers across all parts of the market are now taking social impact and sustainable investing more seriously.”

“It looks like Giddens was right all along,” Real Deals concludes. “Expect others in the asset class to start following the Bridges blueprint.”

Read the full 20 Most Influential 2016 list here (£)