Bridges Fund Management (Bridges), a sustainable and impact investor, has appointed Eva Sarma as an Investment Director for Bridges Evergreen, its long-term capital vehicle.
Sarma previously spent 11 years at 3i, latterly as a Director in the UK private equity team. More recently she was Chief Operating Officer and Company Secretary of Level 20, a not-for-profit organisation that champions gender diversity in the private equity industry. She has extensive experience as a Non-Executive Director: she currently holds board positions with Level 20 and The Place, the UK’s premier contemporary dance centre, while her previous board positions include Mayborn, owner of the global baby brand tommee tippee.
Evergreen is the UK’s first long-term impact-focused equity fund. Launched in 2016, it seeks to partner with ambitious, highly impactful businesses that are helping to solve pressing social and environmental challenges. Its patient, flexible, values-aligned capital – coupled with ongoing strategic and operational support – enables these organisations to accelerate their growth and scale their impact.
Evergreen’s recent investments include AgilityEco, which provide energy-efficiency measures to help households in fuel poverty; and Skills Training UK, which provides quality employer-focused skills training for young people and adults.
Sarma, Investment Director at Bridges Fund Management, says: “I’m delighted to be joining the Bridges Evergreen team. Having spent more than a decade in UK private equity, it was clear to me that Evergreen has developed a completely differentiated proposition that will be very attractive to impact-driven management teams looking for a supportive, values-aligned partner. I think that creates a huge opportunity for Evergreen, and I’m excited by the opportunity to be a part of that – while helping some of these great businesses to scale faster and have even more impact.
Tom Biddle, Head of Evergreen at Bridges Fund Management, adds: “We’re very excited to be welcoming Eva to the Bridges Evergreen team. Evergreen is already delivering both powerful positive impact and very attractive financial returns to our investors. Hiring someone of Eva’s calibre is another significant step forward for the fund; her extensive experience of successful mid-market investing will help us raise our game further as we continue to build the UK’s leading impact-driven, long-term equity fund.”
