Reading: LDC boosts portfolio team

Mid-market private equity house LDC has further strengthened its portfolio team in Reading with the appointment of Martin Rowland as investment director.

Rowland was previously chief operating officer of Data Locator Group (DLG), one of the UK’s largest lifestyle marketing data companies.

He worked with the business’ private equity backers, Promethean Investments, to deliver an acquisition-based growth strategy which achieved a 50% growth in turnover over a 12-month period.

In October 2007, Rowland executed the £72.5 million secondary buyout of the firm which generated a threefold return.

Starting his career at Coopers & Lybrand 13 years ago, he has held a number of senior management and corporate finance roles, including heading a team at Grant Thornton which delivered operational due diligence and merger integration support.

At Rank Group plc he was responsible for transactions with a total value in excess of £700million and during his time as Head of Business Transformation at Accord plc, he restructured the organisation, removing non-core assets and integrating new business worth £250million.

His role at LDC will see him work with the team’s portfolio firms across the South to drive shareholder value by maximising earnings growth, cash generation and creating sustainable expansion.

Rowland, investment director at LDC, said: “I’ve been brought on board to work closely with management teams to plan and execute strategic and operational improvement programmes which will deliver significant benefits for the companies.

“LDC has completed some fantastic deals recently and I’m looking forward to working with the ambitious and talented teams that my new colleagues here have backed.”

Kevan Leggett, managing director of LDC, said: “Martin has a wealth of expertise in corporate finance, integration and operations which will be of huge benefit to our portfolio businesses.

“He has vast experience as both an investor and an investee and can work alongside management teams to realise their growth plans.

“Martin’s appointment reaffirms our commitment to working with companies to build value and ensure that LDC remains the leading private equity house in the South.”