Baronsmead Venture Trust plc

Fiona joined the Baronsmead Venture Trust plc Board on 1 September 2021 as a Non-Executive Director and has been appointed as Chair in 2022.

Fiona is the CEO of Barts Charity a health foundation with a £550m financial investment and commercial property portfolio. Barts Charity funds transformational medical research and innovation in healthcare delivery and technology. Over the last five years, Barts has also allocated 25% of its portfolio to private equity and venture funds including early stage venture and life sciences funds.

Fiona brings to Baronsmead a wealth of experience, spanning over 25 years, in investing in and leading growth companies. Her early career was in finance and private equity at Goldman Sachs and Murray Johnson Private Equity, and she then had a successful entrepreneurial career prior to joining Barts Charity in 2016 including five years at Social Finance UK, a leading impact investing and advisory firm. Fiona is Trustee of John Lyons, Chair of Lifting Limits and sits on the Barts Life Sciences Advisory Board. Fiona has an MBA from INSEAD.

Michael Probin has over 30 years’ experience in executive roles within the tax-efficient investment industry. He worked on Business Expansion Scheme products at AXA Sun Life Group for 10 years before joining the management team at Livingbridge LLP, where he gained extensive knowledge of the VCT industry. Before retiring from his role at Livingbridge LLP in 2018, he worked extensively with VCT industry trade and representative bodies and stakeholders of all forms. The depth of his technical knowledge added substantially to responses to industry level consultations carried out by the UK government and regulatory bodies as well as the European Commission.

He holds a BSc and MSc (Econ) in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics and an EMBA from London Business School.

Ken is Managing Director, Public Equity, and leads the investment team managing public equity investments. He is lead manager for LF Gresham House UK Micro Cap Fund, LF Gresham House UK Multi Cap Income Fund, Strategic Equity Capital plc and manages AIM listed portfolios on behalf of the Baronsmead VCTs. Ken graduated from Brasenose College, Oxford, before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG. He was an equity research analyst with Commerzbank and then Evolution Securities prior to spending the past 12 years as a Fund Manager at Livingbridge and now Gresham House specialising in smaller companies.

Tania joined Gresham House in November 2018 having been at Livingbridge for 13 years. She has worked on the Baronsmead VCTs since she joined, progressing from administration assistant to Finance Manager in 2011 and qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant in 2012 while at Livingbridge.

Tania previously worked at a Chartered Accountancy practice in New Zealand for eight years where she began her accounting training. She holds a BBS in Accounting from the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.

Clive joined Gresham House in 2021 as part of the Mobeus VCTs acquisition.  He is an investment management specialist with experience across a wide variety of sectors and stages of company development. He has worked in the private equity industry since 1995 making investments including TeleCity and Kerridge Commercial Systems.  He has been working in the VCT industry since 2008 with previous experience including running his own business and as a Director of NVM Private Equity, Catapult Venture Managers and 3i plc.

Having specialised in portfolio management, Clive has acted as non-executive director and Chairman of a wide range of private equity backed businesses such as Virgin Wines, Entanet and Equip Outdoor Technologies. He now heads VCT portfolio management across the Gresham House VCT stable, sits on the Investment Committee and has responsibility for the portfolio valuations processes.

Clive holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Physics & Electronics from Durham University, a DipM from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and an MBA from the University of Warwick.

Trevor joined Gresham House in 2021 as part of the Mobeus VCTs acquisition. For over 25 years, he has invested in fast-growing businesses at the series A stage and beyond.

Prior roles include at Barclays, RBS, 3i and Beringea. Previous investments and Board positions include Paragon Software, Mondus.com, Cambridge Industries, Southnews plc, Achilles Group, MyOptique, Fjordnet, ILG Digital, Celebrus Technologies, Big Data Partnership, and Preservica.

Trevor holds an MBA from Exeter University, is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Jamie joined Gresham House in October 2022 as a Client Services Associate within our Institutional Distribution team.

He previously spent five years at Cazenove, the wealth management arm of Schroders as a Client Services Executive within their Charities team. Prior to that, Jamie worked within the UK Retail Sales team at Schroders.

Jamie holds the CFA Institute Investment Foundations Certificate and Unit 1 of the IMC.

Keisha-Ann joined Gresham House in November 2020 as part of the Institutional Sales team and is responsible for institutional business development and consultant relations, fundraising across Gresham House’s Real Assets strategies.

Prior to Gresham House, she spent five years at quantitative investment manager, Winton, where she was responsible for investor relations coverage of investment consultants and Winton’s global institutional and wholesale clients including pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, investment banks, family offices and endowments.

Keisha-Ann holds a BA (Hons) in Geography from the University of Leeds.

Heather is Managing Director, Institutional Business and a member of the GHAM Board.

Prior to joining Gresham House, Heather spent seven years at Fidelity International, latterly as Head of Institutional Distribution for UK & Ireland. She also previously held business development and client relationship positions at BankInvest, Capital International and Gartmore where she focussed on U.K & Ireland and Nordic institutional investors.

Heather has over 25 years of financial experience and holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Durham University and the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK.

Claire joined Gresham House in August 2023 as Head of Business Development in the UK and Irish Institutional market.

Prior to Gresham House, Claire worked at Schroders for ten years and held positions as Head of Sustainability UK and Co-Head of the UK Institutional Business.

Claire started her career at M&G Investments, before moving to Baring Asset Management where she spent 11 years with the last six years in a UK Institutional Business Development role.

Claire is IMC qualified and has obtained the CFA ESG certificate.

Ben is Head of Institutional Business, and joined Gresham House in May 2024.

Prior to joining the firm Ben was the EMEA Commercial Officer at Cambridge Associates, where he was responsible for Business Development & Marketing focussing on Institutional investors, Endowment & Foundations and Family Offices. Before, joining Cambridge Associates, Ben spent 18 years at Mercer Investments in several leadership roles including European Head of Mercer Sentinel and the UK Head of Fiduciary Management. In his previous roles Ben has been responsible for developing propositions across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, including spending time as the Head of Mercer’s Middle East business based in Dubai.

Ben holds a MSc in Accounting and Finance from DeMonfort University and a BSc (Econ) in Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Buckingham. He is also a qualified Actuary, has passed the Investment Management Certificate and has over 20 years-experience in the financial industry.

David joined Gresham House in June 2023 as an RFP Analyst within our Institutional Distribution team. He is responsible for ensuring the consistency and quality of the firm’s investment proposal content and processes as well as contributing to the production of marketing materials.

David has over 15 years of experience within financial services distribution, having worked with a number of global fund management firms as an investment and RFP writer and business manager.

He holds an MA (Hons) in Modern Languages from the University of St Andrews and the Investment Management Certificate.

Alastair joined Gresham House in 2023 and is responsible for growing and maintaining relationships with institutional asset owners and consultants.

Alastair has over 15 years’ experience working with institutional investors. Prior to Gresham House, Alastair worked at Ninety One where he was responsible for business development with UK institutions. Prior to Ninety One, Alastair held business development and client management positions at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, focussing on the UK and Ireland.

Alastair holds a BA in Management Studies from Nottingham University, the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing and is a CFA charter holder.

Liz joined Gresham House from Legal & General Investment Management, where she was an Investment Reporting Analyst working with Institutional clients.

Prior to Legal & General, Liz held roles as a Client Service Analyst at Wellington Management, covering the Global Wealth channel in Europe and Asia, and as an Investor Relations Specialist at NewSmith Asset Management.

Liz holds the Investment Management Certificate and has a BA in French & Spanish from University College London.

Sean is a member of the Institute of Banking with over 38 years experience in the financial services industry. Sean has worked / lived in Waterford, Thurles, Kilkenny and Cork holding branch manager, area and regional management positions. Sean now lives in Cork and is Appian’s South of Ireland business development manager.

Anthony’s background is in investment banking, having previously worked for international firms in London, New York and South America, including Macquarie and Merrill Lynch. At Gresham House, he is responsible for business development, marketing and sales for our forestry and new energy assets, also managing one of the funds.

Anthony has a BA (Hons) in History from Newcastle University and is an Investment Management Certificate holder. He is also a registered adviser with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Kenneth joined Gresham House Ireland in March 2023.

Prior to Gresham House, Kenneth spent two years with Bank of Ireland in a Welcome and Operations role dealing with commercial and personal customers.

Kenneth graduated from the University of Galway with a Bachelor of Commerce and is studying for his Qualified Financial Advisor exams.

Kathryn joined Gresham House Ireland in March 2022 to spearhead our offering for private clients. She has worked as an investment manager with private clients for over 15 years, aligning their investment strategies with their personal goals, across various wealth structures. She has over 20 years’ experience in the wealth management sector, having advised individuals and their families, not-for-profits, corporates and pension clients in this time.

Kathryn graduated with a degree in Corporate Law and interned at MetLife Bank in New York prior to commencing her career at a large wealth management business in Dublin. She is a Chartered Member of the Securities & Investment Institute in London and holds the CFP® designation. She also holds a first-class MSc in Financial Services, and has served as a Professional Pension Trustee Practitioner. Demonstrating her commitment to sustainable investing, Kathryn recently completed the ESG Certificate via the CFA.

Ian joined Gresham House Ireland (formerly Appian Asset Management) in June 2009 after spending over five years at Bear Stearns. Ian worked within Bear’s Fixed Income/Equity operational departments for two years followed by three years in the Legal & Compliance Department where he worked as an AMLO Officer & Compliance Officer. In June 2009, Ian worked within the Account Opening/Compliance departments before managing the operations department. Ian has built up a strong relationship with our brokers and clients over the past nine years. Ian brings a wealth of experience into our client relationship team having worked in the industry for nearly 14 years. Ian is a Qualified Financial Advisor.

Chris is a Managing Director in the Wholesale Distribution team and joined Gresham House in July 2021.

Prior to this he was Head of Strategic Partnerships at LGBR Capital where he focused on developing key strategic relationships in the UK discretionary market. He was one of the founding members of LGBR Capital, helping to grow the business from launch in 2012 into one of the largest outsourced distributors in the UK.

Chris previously held business development and client relationship positions at Matrix Asset Management and Goldman Sachs.

Chris has 14 years’ industry experience and holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics from Queen Mary, University of London. He is a CAIA Charterholder and has passed both the Certificate in ESG Investing and the Investment Management Certificate from the CFA Society of the UK.

Andy has over 20 years’ industry experience and joined Gresham House in October 2019 after spending two years at BNP Paribas. Prior to this he spent six years as investment sales director at BNY Mellon, focusing on family offices and the London discretionary market.

He has also worked in the business development team at Skandia Investment Management, helping launch the Spectrum range of funds. He holds a BA (Hons) in Economics, the CFA Certificate in Investment Management, the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing, the CII Certificate In Discretionary Investment Management, the CII Certificate in Investment Operations and the CII Diploma in Financial Planning.

Rees joined the Wholesale Distribution team in July 2022.

Prior to joining Gresham House, Rees worked within the UK Investor Relations team at Comgest Asset Management and within the Asset Management team at Willis Towers Watson.

Rees is currently studying for his Investment Management Certificate.