New Manchester head for NorthEdge
NORTHEDGE Capital has promoted Jon Pickering to head of Manchester and will lead the firm’s investment operations across the North West.
Pickering has worked in the North West private equity market since 2002 and joined NorthEdge in 2013.
During his time at NorthEdge, he has led seven deals plus a number of follow-on portfolio acquisitions. This includes investments into SAAS provider Utiligroup and door manufacturer Solidor and subsequent acquisitions to create DW3 Products Group. More recently, he led the investment into the niche logistics provider, Abbey Logistics.
Working alongside Ray Stenton, partner and head of new business at NorthEdge, Pickering will lead a six-strong new business team at the firm’s Manchester office. He will be responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, managing key intermediaries and leading the firm’s investment operations across the North West.
His promotion comes as NorthEdge announces record investment activity for the past 12 months. The firm, which now has £525m of funds under management, has committed over £100m of equity across seven deals and achieved two exits – the flotation on AIM of tissue paper converter Accrol Group Holdings and the recent sale of video game developer Sumo Digital.
Ray Stenton, partner and head of new business at NorthEdge, said: “Our North West presence remains a core principle of the NorthEdge strategy. We have seen great success in the past 12 months thanks to the knowledge and relationships we have across the region, culminating in record levels of investment activity. It is important that we continue to build on that.
“Jon’s ability to leverage relationships and source deals has proven invaluable for a number of our investments. His promotion reflects our commitment to ensuring the North West remains a stronghold for us and I am confident that in this new role he will continue to deliver investment opportunities that will cement our position as the market leader in the North West.”
Jon Pickering, head of Manchester at NorthEdge, said: “With our second fund of £300m and a talented new business team, we have both the resources and expertise to deliver on an even larger scale. I am looking forward to taking on this challenge as we seek more investments to support entrepreneurial management teams and continue our success.”
