People
North Shore InnoVentures (NSIV) has appointed Chris Ilsley to CEO and President. Ilsley joins as the non-profit technology business sector incubator organisation reaches the 10-year mark, capping a year of growth and expansion.
Ilsley spent a career driving innovation and entrepreneurship in areas ranging from biotech and cleantech to big data and has previously connected the New England region with the United Kingdom as the Head of Science and Innovation with the office of the British Consulate-General in Boston.
“Innovation is something this whole region excels at, it’s not just about Kendall Square and Boston. The talent pool is all
Private equity firm Grain Management has appointed Edith Cooper and Virgis Colbert as Senior Advisors.
“Edith is an exceptional executive and brings more than 20 years of experience from Goldman Sachs with particular competence in human capital development. Her wealth of experience and excellent judgement will help Grain extend the winning culture we are building,” says David Grain, Founder and CEO of Grain Management. “We look forward to expanding our team with the benefits of her knowledge and expertise.”
At Goldman Sachs, Cooper served as the Global Head of Human Capital Management and oversaw the recruitment, development and well-being
UK private equity firm Maven Capital Partners (Maven) has strengthened its Midlands team with the appointment of senior investment specialists Chris Rogers, Richard Altoft and Graham Hall.
Based in Birmingham, Rogers has responsibility for new MEIF investments and will work closely with investee companies throughout Worcestershire. Rogers joins Maven after a 22-year career in commercial banking with RBS, as a Senior Relationship Manager, providing structural guidance and financial analysis to SMEs.
Working across Greater Lincolnshire, Altoft has joined Maven following a long career in banking, most recently as Corporate Manager at Handelsbanken, where he was responsible for building relationships
Numan Siddiqi, an attorney with more than two decades of experience handling complex transactions involving both public and private companies, has joined BakerHostetler as a partner in its Business Group, based in Costa Mesa. Siddiqi was previously a partner at Brown Rudnick LLP.
Siddiqi’s practice consists of general corporate representations, including public and private securities offerings of debt and equity, mergers and acquisitions, finance, and ongoing counseling. Much of his work focuses on emerging companies in the life sciences, software and semiconductor sectors.
“We’re thrilled to add Numan and his broad capabilities to the team here in Costa Mesa,”
Northleaf Capital Partners (Northleaf) is opening an office in Melbourne, Australia as the firm continues to expand its USD10 billion global private markets investment management platform.
The announcement coincides with Northleaf reaching financial close on its third Australian infrastructure investment – a 40 per cent equity interest in Lal Lal Wind Farms, two wind generation projects located near Ballarat, Victoria.
“A formal presence in Australia extends Northleaf’s worldwide network, enhancing our capabilities to provide investors with access to highly differentiated mid-market infrastructure, private equity and private credit investments globally,” says Stuart Waugh, Managing Partner of Northleaf. “Establishing the Melbourne
Gunderson Dettmer has appointed Malcolm B Nicholls III as a partner in the firm’s fund formation practice in Boston.
Nicholls brings over 20 years of experience representing venture capital, private equity fund managers and investment advisors globally on a wide range of issues, including formations, secondary transactions, internal governance, and divestments and distributions. A significant portion of Malcolm’s practice focuses on representing general partners in the formation and maintenance of venture capital and private equity investment funds and funds of funds.
“We are delighted to welcome Malcolm to the firm,” says Robert V Gunderson, Jr, Chairman of the firm.
Mourant Ozannes’ Jersey investment funds team has shown significant growth over the last 12 months with the appointment of three associates, Sally Muller, Rachel McGinness and Faria Rahman, as well as senior associate, Alex Henderson.
The team, which is the largest in Jersey, has held its position as the leading legal adviser in the island’s funds industry for 18 consecutive years. This strategic expansion of the team enhances the firm’s capacity to service its client base, which includes some of the biggest players in the global funds market.
Most recent hire, senior associate Alex Henderson, joined the firm this
Great Rock Capital, an asset-focused commercial finance company specialising in middle market lending, has appointed Jared Grabow as Managing Director of Originations.
Grabow will be based in Dallas, TX, and will be responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities and building relationships for the firm in Texas and the surrounding markets.
“We are excited to have Jared join Great Rock as we expand into the Texas market,” says Stuart Armstrong, CEO of Great Rock Capital. “Jared is a native of Texas and we look forward to having a local presence in a market that we view as critical to our future growth.”
Grabow joins Great Rock Capital
Akerman has added to its M&A and Private Practice in New York with the appointment of experienced corporate partner Michael O’Brien.
Joining from Vedder Price, he brings more than three decades of experience in advising a wide range of public and private companies, with an emphasis on the private equity, life sciences and fintech sectors. O’Brien is the third New York partner to join Akerman’s national M&A and Private Equity Practice in the last four months, following the team’s continuing national expansion across major U.S. business centres.
“Michael is a superb corporate lawyer, respected by clients and peers for
Lovell Minnick Partners, a private equity firm specialising in financial and related business services companies, has appointed Joan Binstock as a Senior Advisor to the firm.
Binstock is a senior financial services executive with a strong track record of aligning operational and financial infrastructure, corporate governance and fiduciary oversight. She spent the majority of her career at Lord, Abbett & Co, serving as Partner, Chief Operations Officer, Chief Financial Officer and chair of its audit committee over nearly two decades.
Most recently at Lord, Abbett & Co. as a member of its executive team Binstock played a leading role in key strategic directives such as broader product development, global distribution initiatives and rigorous risk management practices across the firm. During her tenure as COO and CFO, she assisted with expanding the firm’s business into foreign markets and worked to successfully transform Lord, Abbett & Co from being a US-focused financial
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12 November, 2026 – 8:00 am
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