Directorbank’s Matt Venning has successfully completed a gruelling 100-mile charity ride, cycling across rough terrain along the full length of the South Downs Way. The feat – a test of endurance and determination – took him from Winchester to Eastbourne and he crossed the finish line after an arduous 15 hours in the saddle.

Matt rode in support of The SMA Trust, the leading UK charity dedicated to funding research into a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

The cause is close to Matt’s heart. His two year old daughter Alexa was diagnosed with SMA type 2 last year and there is currently no treatment or cure for the condition. Scientists and drug companies are making great progress and a breakthrough is genuinely possible within a few years.

Matt’s fundraising efforts will specifically go towards the launch of the ‘UK SMA Research Consortium’ which will bring together world class researchers and clinical experts to find effective treatments and fast track drug development.

Matt comments: “SMA is the leading genetic killer of infants and toddlers. There are some 2,500 children and young people with the condition in the UK alone and 1 in 40 of us is a carrier. My mission has been both to raise awareness of this devastating muscle-degeneration disease and to enlist help in funding a cure.”

The team at Directorbank congratulate Matt on such a tremendous achievement and have proudly contributed towards his JustGiving page. This is the first of many fundraising initiatives for Matt in his quest to reach a target of £50k.

For more information, or to sponsor Matt’s cause, visit www.justgiving.com/SMAsters-of-the-Universe 

Directorbank has recently assisted Livingbridge in the search for a new Chairman for Key Travel Group.

Key Travel is the leading travel management company dedicated to serving the travel requirements of the humanitarian, education and faith sectors. The firm has offices in the UK, Europe and the US and provides airline tickets, hotels, rail tickets, visas and risk management services to a growing client base both offline and online. 

Since investment from Livingbridge in 2013, Key Travel has embarked on an ambitious growth strategy to increase penetration of both the UK academic and charity markets whilst accelerating expansion plans in the US.

To help realise such plans, the business required a new Chairman with the right blend of experience and skills to guide the Board and senior team through the next phase of growth.  The ideal candidate would be a proven private equity Chairman with a strong background in the technology-enabled business services arena and in-depth international experience.

After Directorbank’s thorough search of the market, Neville Davis became the unanimous choice. A highly respected non-executive chairman and company director, Neville has successfully chaired a number of high growth PE-backed companies, with a particular bias to international expansion in the tech sector.

He is currently Chairman of three companies, most with global reach – Clifford Thames (software-based solutions and services), SecureData (IT security solutions and services), and Fourth (global market leader in the provision of SaaS to the hospitality sector). His previous roles include Chair of Trustmarque, Ascribe and Amor (the latter at which GCP’s exit won ‘Private Equity Deal of the Year’ at the UKtech Awards 2013).

“We have used Directorbank on several occasions to facilitate the search for senior talent. They are well known and respected across the PE industry and bring years of experience and knowledge to the task of finding the best individual. James has a deep understanding of the tech and services sectors and is a highly effective search professional – rigorous, discreet, intelligent in his approach and extremely well networked. We are delighted with Neville’s appointment. Neville’s track record is outstanding and his strong sector expertise and experience of international expansion will be instrumental in helping Key Travel achieve its ambitious growth plans.” Graham Butler, Livingbridge.

For more information on Directorbank’s executive search and pre-deal recruitment services, please contact James Searby on 020 7255 7940.

Directorbank has made further investment in its research team with two new appointments. Anna Cutmore joins the team from Wilton & Bain and Laura Buxton joins from Odgers Berndtson. Both have strong experience of working on board level search mandates

At Wilton & Bain, Anna was a Senior Associate leading a research team through the entire delivery cycle and managing candidates throughout the process. She additionally gained solid experience in delivering due diligence and market mapping exercises as well as detailed sector-specific company reviews to source exceptional candidates.

At Odgers Berndtson, Laura worked in both the Healthcare and Board Practices undertaking detailed research exercises for a variety of executive and non-executive appointments including sector and competitor mapping activity. Additionally she supported the consultants in a broader capacity by drafting proposals and candidate reports.

James Searby, Director, comments: “Such a skilled research team significantly boosts Directorbank’s mapping capabilities and delivers vital support to our consultants by enabling them to respond faster to a search brief with the best talent solutions available in the market.”

Such investment has given us the resource and expertise to win and deliver a growing number of retained assignments, particularly from entrepreneurial private firms and plc’s that require high calibre entrepreneurial directors to implement change and drive growth.”

For more information on our service offering please contact James Searby on 020 7255 7940 or visit www.directorbank.com

Directorbank adds value to the private equity sector with executive search solutions, pre-deal recruitment support and networking events. The business also specialises in board and senior level search assignments for privately-owned and AIM listed businesses.

Anna Cutmore:

Laura Buxton:

Directorbank Northern Private Equity Event – Wed 20^th May: Over 50 guests gathered in the Granary Lounge at Leeds’ DoubleTree Hilton to network with a high calibre mix of board level directors from the North and private equity investors with interests in the region.

 The evening was a great success as guests discussed regional developments, shared experiences and interests, and talked though future plans over wine and delicious canapés.

George Heppenstall, Directorbank’s Head of the Northern region, welcomed guests with a light-hearted speech that outlined key developments at Directorbank as well as private equity activity across the region.

Our thanks go to our event sponsor, Irwin Mitchell, and their team of senior Corporate Practice representatives who supported us throughout the evening – Chris Rawstron, National Head of Corporate; Paul Johnson, Head of Corporate Leeds; and Andrea Cropley, Head of Corporate Sheffield.

Irwin Mitchell is a national law firm with active involvement in the private equity and venture capital market working with both investors and management teams across the investment cycle. Their corporate offering is going from strength to strength and the firm is keen to build relationships with management teams of ambitious, growing businesses. Our event was a good fit for the firm, and we were delighted to have them on board as our partner.