Global technology, media and communications investment bank Drake Star Partners has appointed senior investment banker Eric Ward as a partner in the firm’s London office.   Ward has over 15 years of M&A and industry experience, with a distinct focus on e-commerce and digital marketing, including retail tech, ad tech, martech, analytics and AI.   Ward has participated in many high-profile transactions in these sectors over the years. For instance, he recently advised Honeycomb on its merger with Group IMD, advised Hitfox Group (Berlin) on its secondary sale of shares in Finleap, Anatwine on its fundraising and subsequent sale to

21 Centrale has added to its investment team with the appointment of Dorothée Chatain as Principal. With more than ten years of private equity experience in an international Growth and LBO Fund, Chatain joins an investment team already made up of eight experienced professionals. As a senior member of the investment team, Chatain will take part in the sourcing, investment and support of the Fund’s portfolio companies.   Her arrival consolidates a team that recently welcomed two new talents namely Tracy Tran (KPMG) mid-2017 and Cyriac Schmit (Accuracy) early 2018, both as Associates.   Chatain says: “I am delighted to

Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management has appointed Ashton Bradbury as a non-executive director of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT 1 plc. Bradbury brings more than 25 years of financial and investment industry experience to his role. Having run small company investment teams at Hill Samuel Investment Management and HSBC Asset Management Europe, Ashton founded the Old Mutual Global Investors Ltd (formerly Old Mutual Asset Management UK Ltd) small and mid-cap investment team in 2000 and became head of equities in 2008. Amongst many industry awards he was named Citywire Fund Manager of the year in 2002, Investment Week Fund Manager of the

Morgan Lewis has appointed Paul Denham as finance partner. Denham, who advises clients on a wide range of leveraged finance and banking matters, will be based in the firm’s London office. Denham advises banks, credit funds, borrowers, and sponsors on a wide range of financing and restructuring transactions, with a particular focus on leveraged and acquisition financings. He was formerly a Morgan Lewis associate.   “I am pleased to welcome Paul back to our firm in London,” says Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Paul’s arrival demonstrates our commitment to the global financial centre of London and provides further support for clients

LiveOak Venture Partners, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Austin, Texas, has appointed Mike Marcantonio as Principal, and Mason Rathe as Senior Associate. Mike and Mason are the first investment professionals being added to the team outside of the three founding partners and will focus on both executing new investments and supporting the firm’s growing portfolio.   Marcantonio spent six years with Blue Heron Capital, where he made venture and growth stage investments in technology and healthcare-IT companies. He brings experience sourcing new investments, as well as extensive portfolio company support and board oversight for companies such as Tricast

Ipes, a provider of outsourced services to private equity in Europe, has strengthened its senior team in Jersey with the creation of new roles and new appointments. Senior Managers Gary Ayres and Vimbai Bundu-Kamara have been appointed as Operations Directors and have joined the Jersey board. Gary and Vimbai will be jointly responsible for oversight and delivery of all aspects of client service and are the primary Senior Client Leads in the Jersey office.   Robin De Gruchy-Wilson has been appointed as a Client Director. Robin has more than 9 years financial services experience. Robin currently sits on a number

Sofinnova Partners, a European venture capital firm specialised in Life Sciences, has appointed Martin T Rothman as Venture Partner. Rothman brings forty years of experience and a strong international network in the medical field to Sofinnova Partners.   As Venture Partner, Rothman will focus on helping the team identify and evaluate promising medical device companies and on mentoring entrepreneurs and physicians launching clinical innovations. Sofinnova Partners and Rothman have closely collaborated over many years. Rothman is the founder of LimFlow and an independent board member of HighLife, both portfolio companies of Sofinnova Partners. Until recently, he was Vice President of

Converged ICT Services Provider GCI, a portfolio company of private equity firm Mayfair Equity Partners, has appointed Patrick De Smedt as Non-Executive Chairman. De Smedt brings a wealth of experience to GCI, including 23 years with Microsoft which he joined in 1983 when it was a mere 200 employees. De Smedt was one of its first appointments in Europe and his career culminated in the role of Chairman for Microsoft Europe Middle East and Africa.   He has since joined a number of public and private (equity backed) Boards, since leaving Microsoft at the end of 2006 including Kodak Alaris

Hanneke Smits, CEO of Newton Investment Management and a current trustee, is to succeed Johannes Huth, MD of KKR as Chair of Impetus – The Private Equity Foundation (Impetus – PEF). Huth has served as Impetus-PEF’s chair since 2013. Impetus-PEF finds, funds, and builds the best charities working with disadvantaged young people, providing long term funding, access to a pro bono network of over 350 companies and dedicated support from its expert investment team. Since its inception Impetus-PEF has generated GBP121 million of value for the charities it supports.   Smits was appointed CEO of Newton in 2016.  Prior to that