NorthEdge Capital, which manages over GBP650 million of private equity funds aimed at the North and Midlands regions, has recruited a new director and made six senior promotions.The firm, which focuses on companies seeking equity investment to support MBOs, development capital and equity release transactions, has recruited Liam May as a Director in its Manchester office. Liam joins from NVM Private Equity where he was an Investment Director investing in a range of companies across the North West. His prior experience includes roles with GCA Altium and EY. At NorthEdge he will be responsible for originating, transacting and managing investments.
The business has also promoted Andrew Skinner to Director, Head of Midlands; James Hales to Director, Head of Origination; and George Potts to Director within the North West investment team. The firm has also made three Investment Director promotions.
As the Head of the Midlands, Skinner has leadership of the Birmingham office – including responsibility for the portfolio and origination in the region. He joined NorthEdge in 2016 as Investment Manager and has since been involved in the majority of the firm’s deals in the Midlands including the sales of Bridge Farm, Jigsaw24 and Direct Healthcare Group. Skinner also worked on the MBOs of Orbis Protect, Phoebus Software and the GBP90 million acquisition of Catalis Group and sits on the board of SaaS business Pimberly.
James Hales has been appointed as Director, Head of Origination after setting up NorthEdge’s dedicated deal origination function, which recently led to the off-market investment in Phoebus Software. Hales will now lead the monitoring, management and reporting of deal origination across the regions as a director.
George Potts has been promoted to Director, and is responsible for originating, transacting and managing investments alongside leading the firm’s ESG efforts. Earlier this year, Potts led NorthEdge’s exit of Cubic Motion to American gaming giant Epic Games – a deal that he originated in 2017. In 2019, Potts was appointed Chair of the BVCA’s Responsible Investment Advisory Group, and currently represents NorthEdge on the boards of FIS and Phoebus Software.
NorthEdge has also promoted Jordana Cropper, Kevin O’Loughlin and Dan Matkin to Investment Directors. Each have been instrumental in a number of investments.
Cropper has played a significant part in the progression of Total Fitness, kitchen cabinet, door & components supplier TKC and ITC Luxury Travel, and plays a pivotal role on NorthEdge’s Diversity & Inclusion committee. Matkin works on the Abbey Logistics and Cloud Technology Solutions (CTS) investments and led the multi-million-pound investment in Wilmslow-based CMAP last year. O’Loughlin was involved in the investments into Orbis Protect in 2018, and the GBP90 million Catalis transaction last year, as well as leading the exit of Bridge Farm to a strategic trade acquirer.
Grant Berry, Joint Managing Partner at NorthEdge, says: “Liam’s experience, talent and network across the North West make him a great senior addition to the team. His recruitment, alongside a series of senior promotions, primes us for future growth across our regions.
“It is a privilege to be able to reward hard work and dedication like this. The talent we have in the business is helping us to spot the best investment opportunities, work in partnership with our portfolio and ultimately drive successful outcomes for NorthEdge and its investors.
“Each promotion is richly deserved, following hard work from each of the individuals – some of whom joined NorthEdge many years ago and have progressed through the business. We look forward to seeing what comes next for each of them as NorthEdge continues to grow.”
