Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Executive Director operating in the Venture Capital space. If you think a Executive Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Kirk A. Lepke
Executive Director, GS Growth of Goldman Sachs
Kirk A. Lepke is an Executive Director, GS Growth at Goldman Sachs. He was a member of the firm’s investment activities in Europe. Prior to Summit, Kirk worked for Torch Partners and Morgan Keegan Technology Group. He received a BA in commerce, organizations and entrepreneurship, magna cum laude, from Brown University.
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About Goldman Sachs: Goldman Sachs is a multinational financial services firm providing securities, investment banking, and management services.
Russell Berry
Executive Director of Goldman Sachs
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About Goldman Sachs: Goldman Sachs is a multinational financial services firm providing securities, investment banking, and management services.
Thomas Teichman
Chairman and Executive Director of Spark Ventures
Tom is the Chairman of SPARK Venture Management and has a long track record in backing, chairing and developing some of Europe’s most successful internet, technology, music, games and software businesses. Additionally, he has 20 years’ prior investment banking experience acquired at Credit Suisse, Bank of Montreal Nesbitt and Mitsubishi Bank, where he held various positions including Head of Corporate Finance, Trading and Syndicate. Tom was Executive Chairman of SPARK Ventures plc for 10 years until 2011 and now chairs SPARK Venture Management, which manages the SPARK Ventures plc portfolio and other significant technology and life sciences portfolios including funds from major institutions and 27 Oxford University colleges and the UK Government. Tom has operated hands-on after his City days in many small and fast growing businesses from start up to IPO or trade sale. Thus, unusually, he combines awareness of the capital markets and the M&A environments with that of entrepreneurial, rapid growth companies with mould-breaking ideas.
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About Simba Sleep, The Garage Soho: SPARK Venture is an early-stage venture capital investor in Europe.
Alexis Scorer
Executive Director of GP Bullhound
Alexis is an Executive Director at GP Bullhound. He has broad experience across the technology industry and has led successful M&A transactions in sectors including software, IT services, telecoms, internet and digital media. Prior to joining GP Bullhound, Alexis was Director of corporate development at Experian where he was responsible for deal origination and execution for the EMEA region. He previously spent more than 10 years working in the technology sector and held international Corporate Development roles at HP Enterprise Services and EDS, where he worked on numerous acquisitions and divestments across Europe. Alexis holds a BSc Joint Hons. in International Management and Modern Languages from the University of Bath and an MBA from Imperial College Business School.
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About GP Bullhound: GP Bullhound is a technology advisory and investment firm that provides transaction advice and capital to entrepreneurs and founders.
Alice Avis
Non-Executive Director of Business Growth Fund
Alice Avis joined the board of BGF in April 2016 and brings a wealth of marketing, e-commerce and executive experience. During her time as Chief Executive and Chair at The Sanctuary Spa, Alice oversaw a trebling of the business’s value and its sale to PZ Cussons. Most recently she served as Executive Chairman for Lumene Oy, a Finnish skincare and cosmetics company. She is currently a Non-Executive Director at The Edrington Group, a privately-owned international spirits company, and Cyden Limited, a British beauty and health company, as well as serving as an advisor to the National Trust. Alice’s experience includes stints as Director of Marketing and e-Commerce at Marks and Spencer, and as Global Brand Director at Johnnie Walker. In 2009 she was awarded an MBE for services to the beauty industry.
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About Business Growth Fund: Business Growth Fund is an influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses.
James Chew
Non Executive Director of Business Growth Fund
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About Business Growth Fund: Business Growth Fund is an influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses.
Coline McConville
Non Executive Director of 3i Group
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About 3i Group: 3i is an international investment manager focused on mid-market Private Equity, Infrastructure & Debt Management.
Mark Stokes
Non-Executive Director of Pembroke VCT
Mark Stokes has over 30 years of experience in financial services, and 20 years at the Executive Committee level. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer at United Trust Bank, and previously held Managing Director positions at Lloyds Corporate and Commercial Banking, Williams & Glyn, and Metro Bank. He has a deep understanding of business strategy, execution, performance management, risk management, and governance. Mark has broad business experience from a career lending into commercial and SME markets, and consumer and asset finance markets, which includes M&A execution and capital markets fundraising. He has also previously served as a Non-Executive Director Alternate with Motobility Operations Group plc. Mark is a member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and has completed their Green and Sustainable Finance certification. He also holds a Diploma in Company Direction and Board Development from the Institute of Directors.
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About Pembroke VCT: Pembroke is a venture capital trust focusing on growth stage companies in the health and fitness, apparel, media, and technology sectors.
Louise Wolfson
Non-Executive Director of Pembroke VCT
Louise is a senior corporate lawyer who was previously a partner at Allen & Overy LLP and Pinsent Masons LLP. She has a particular focus on corporate finance transactions and has wider experience including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, capital raisings, and listings. Louise currently works as a freelance legal consultant and sits as a tribunal judge hearing social security and immigration appeals. Louise is also a director of Women’s Pioneer Housing, a housing association that supports women in West London.
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About Pembroke VCT: Pembroke is a venture capital trust focusing on growth stage companies in the health and fitness, apparel, media, and technology sectors.
Liz Hewitt
Non Executive Director of National Grid Partners
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About National Grid Partners: National Grid Partners makes and manages strategically and financially attractive investments and leads company-wide innovation efforts.
Thomas Munk
Executive Director of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Thomas Munk was the Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer at Compare Europe Group. He currently serves as an Executive Director at Goldman Sachs Asset Management.
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About Goldman Sachs Asset Management: Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides institutional and individual investors with investment and advisory solutions.
Peter Williams
Non-Executive Director of Bridges Fund Management
Peter Williams has 34 years experience in private equity. Until recently he was a group board member and head of UK at 3i, Europe’s leading quoted venture capital company. He qualified as a chartered accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in Birmingham. In 1970 he joined 3i where he spent his career working in their offices in Birmingham, Liverpool, Brighton and London until he retired in 2002. He has been a council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the CBI Small Firms Council as well as a non-executive director of a number of companies.
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About : Bridges Fund Management is a specialist fund manager dedicated to sustainable and impact investment.
James Witter
Non-Executive Director of Oxford Capital Partners
James joined the Board of Oxford Capital at the beginning of 2013 and contributes broad experience of the institutional capital and private equity markets in Europe and around the world. Following a 15 year career with Dresdner Kleinwort Benson merchant bank in London in origination and utilities financing, James became a managing director with Merrill Lynch International before joining Nomura International as Director of Private Equity Capital Markets. Since 2007 he has served SVG Advisers, an affiliate of the Schroders Group and a subsidiary of SVG Capital plc, as a member of the Executive Management Committee and Head of Investment Advisory and Solutions. James read Natural Sciences at Cambridge University and won an MBA at the London Business School. He is a Cambridge Rowing Blue and active sportsman.
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About Oxford Capital Partners, SVG Advisers: Oxford Capital is a technology venture capital investor based in London and Oxford.
