BGF appoints Chris Olds as Chief Operating Officer

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Nicky Godding

Chris Olds BGF

BGF has appointed Chris Olds to the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Previously CFO of Ultraleap, the Bristol-based technology company, Chris has vast experience across the venture capital and growth-stage markets.

In his role at Ultraleap, Chris led the business through a significant phase of growth, raising over £100 million in equity and debt, and leading the acquisition of US tech company Leap Motion.

Before that, Chris held the position of Capital Markets Partner at IP Group, a FTSE 250 listed venture capital firm. Chris holds an Executive MBA with distinction from Oxford University and is a Chartered Accountant. He has also been a non-executive director and advisor to multiple international growth-stage companies.

As COO, Chris will play a key role in delivering the strategic roadmap for BGF, alongside best-in-class infrastructure to support its continued growth. Reporting to BGF’s CEO, Andy Gregory, he will sit on the Executive Committee, Investment Committee and the Board.

Chris said: “I’m delighted to be joining BGF and playing a key role in the growth of one of the most active and experienced investors in the UK and Ireland. Having held senior leadership roles both within the investment industry and at the coal face of a rapidly scaling SME, I look forward to working closely with Andy and the entire team to ensure the highly successful delivery of BGF’s operations.”

At BGF, Chris will be responsible for all operational areas of the business, including finance, regulatory and compliance, legal, technology and IT, ESG, investor relations and fundraising, and operations and facilities.

Matt Reed, who has been with BGF since its inception, latterly as COO, is stepping down after more than 12 years. Matt has been instrumental in the establishment, growth and success of BGF to date.

Andy Gregory, CEO at BGF, said: “Chris brings a strong blend of operational, investment and fundraising experience and we are delighted to welcome him to the BGF team and the Board. On behalf of the Board and the business, I would like to thank Matt Reed for his many contributions to the business, and his fundamental role in its establishment. We wish him all the best in the future.”

Nicky Godding

Nicky Godding is editor of The Business Magazine. Before her journalism career, she worked mainly in public relations moving into writing when she was invited to launch Retail Watch, a publication covering retail and real estate across Europe. After some years of constant travelling, she tucked away her passport and concentrated on business writing, co-founding a successful regional business magazine. She has interviewed some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs who have built multi-million-pound businesses and reported on many science and technology firsts. She reports on the region’s thriving business economy from start-ups, family businesses and multi-million-pound corporations, to the professionals that support their growth and the institutions that educate the next generation of business leaders.