Appointments: Spark Impact recruits two for new biomed fund; and more
SPARK Impact, the fund manager responsible for handling the £25m Biomedical pot of the North West Fund, has appointed Dr Marc d’Abbadie has been appointed as investment director and Dr Andy Round as investment manager.
Dr d’Abbadie has experience of biomedical venture investment knowledge and was previously an investment manager at London-based Inventages, which manages one of the world’s largest life science-focused venture capital funds with assets of $1.5bn.
Dr Round has previously built up a portfolio of life sciences companies at IP-Group and been part of biotech start-up company Micap, which floated on AIM.
They will both be based at SPARK Impact’s office at Liverpool Science Park.
Dr Penny Attridge, senior investment director at SPARK Impact, said: “Marc and Andy bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience from the early stage technology development and biomedical sectors and we are delighted to welcome them to the team.
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LAW firm Beachcroft has promoted Antonia Ford to parner at its Manchester office. Fors is one of six new partners, taking Beachcroft’s total partner numbers to 161.
Paul Murray, managing partner, said: “Beachcroft is continuing to implement a planned programme of targeted growth in our key business areas and these promotions in our insurance and health practices support that strategy.
“Whilst many other law firms have been resorting to significant programmes of job losses and/or salary cuts we have continued to invest in our people and in new opportunities.”
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PRIVATE bank Coutts & Co has appointed James Bardner as a senior private banker and Neil Ferguson as a financial planner in its Manchester office.
Bardner joins from Barclays Wealth and brings more than 25 years’ investment and wealth management experience. Prior to this, he managed the Manchester office of Gerrard Investment Management.
Ferguson has 23 years financial planning experience and was also previously with Barclays Wealth, where he was an associate director.
Dylan Williams, managing partner of the North region, said: “These appointments are part of a series of strategic hires and we are confident that they will further enable us to meet the increasing demand for Coutts’ wealth management services in the region.”
Coutts & Co opened in Manchester in 1993. It is the UK private banking arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
