Reading: BGF grows Thames Valley team
BGF, the UK’s most active investor in growing businesses, has appointed Liam Pursall as an investor and Georgie Stratton in direct origination as part of its growing Reading team.
Pursall joins from Foundation Investment Partners, where he spent four years focusing on UK buyouts with an enterprise value of between £5 million and £50m. Prior to this, he spent five years in the Corporate Finance team at EY.
Pursall’s role at BGF will see him working across all areas of the investment process, from meeting entrepreneurs and management teams seeking funding, to developing new investment opportunities and working to support the growth plans of BGF’s extensive portfolio across the Thames Valley region.
Georgie Stratton joins from PwC, where she worked in a business development role for two years having joined from a similar position at law firm Burges Salmon.
Her direct origination role will see her focusing on the sourcing of new investments and bolt-on acquisitions for portfolio companies across Reading, Bristol and Cardiff
The pair will strengthen the offering of the nine-strong Reading team, led by Ned Dorbin.
BGF’s investments in Reading include: £6.25m in British watchmaker, Christopher Ward; £11.6m in Invenio, the global provider of business focussed technology solutions and consulting services; and £11m in AND Digital, one of Europe’s fastest growing technology companies.
Ned Dorbin, head of BGF’s investment team in Reading, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Liam and Georgie to BGF as we continue to build our team. This year we have averaged one deal a week through what has been a very challenging time for ambitious companies.
“More and more entrepreneurs are reviewing their funding options, whether that is in consideration of a potential capital gains tax increase, a refinancing of CBILS loans or identifying new growth opportunities. Liam and Georgie both bring highly valuable expertise and will enhance our capacity to meet more business owners and management teams in the Thames Valley region.”
