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 United Kingdom based COO’ operating in the Asset Management space. If you think a COO’ 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.
James Hatchley
Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (Europe) of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts
James Hatchley (London) is a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer (Europe) for KKR with local responsibility for the operations of KKR’s businesses across the MENA region. Mr. Hatchley joined KKR as Co-Chief Executive of Avoca Capital in 2014 where he has responsibility for business strategy, strategic fund raising and oversight of non-investment functions. He joined Avoca in May 2012. Previously, he spent 23 years working in the City of London as an investment banker with Schroders, Greenhill and Freeman & Co. Mr. Hatchley established Freeman & Co.’s European business in 2006. During his time as a banker he provided independent strategic and financial advice to a wide range of banks, insurance companies and selected institutional investors. Mr. Hatchley qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen. He has a first class B.Sc (hons) Degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Surrey in the UK.
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About Kohlberg Kravis Roberts: Kohlberg Kravis Roberts is a global alternative asset manager focusing on private equity, fixed income, and capital markets.
Arman Tahmassebi
Chief Operating Officer of LendInvest
Arman began his career at IG Group where he started as a graduate trainee before progressing over the following 15 years to hold several senior management roles overseeing the Technology, Business Development and Operations departments. During his time at IG Group the business grew from a small UK only entity to over 1,400 staff located in 17 countries around the globe with operations underpinned by industry leading proprietary technology. Latterly Arman was CEO of ETX Capital, an award winning provider of retail trading technology and services.
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About LendInvest: LendInvest is the leading marketplace platform for property finance.
Stephen Leggett
Chief Operating Officer of Calastone
Steve Leggett joined Calastone in 2008. Steve was one of the original members of the Calastone team who as Global Head of Operations, established the operational functions that underpin Calastone’s global network. Appointed as Chief Operating Officer in 2018, Steve leads Calastone’s UK and European business, as well as managing global operational functions including product development and service delivery. Prior to joining Calastone, Steve has held senior project management and operational positions at firms including Reuters, Lloyds TSB and digital brokerage Instinet giving him over 25 years experience of program, operational management and business transformation.
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About Calastone: Calastone is a global transaction network for the mutual fund industry.
Joe Bonnaud
Global Markets COO and Head of Engineering of BNP Paribas Private Equity
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About BNP Paribas Private Equity, BNP Paribas Private Equity: BNP Paribas is a French private equity firm that provides a range of asset management services to its institutional and retail clients.
John Marsland
COO, Investments of Schroders
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About Schroders: Schroders is an asset management company.
Nick Rogers
COO & Co-Founder of Sky-Futures
Nick is Chief Regulatory and Training Officer (CRTO) and co-founder at Sky-Futures. He oversees the Training and Regulatory framework including the UK CAA National Qualified Entity (NQE) Status, ensuring that the Remote Pilot training is robust and fit for purpose. As a qualified civilian airline Captain who continues to fly Airbus A320 passenger jets, Nick’s aviation experience and understanding of the manned aviation environment have been instrumental in establishing a culture of safety and outstanding operational procedures that help enhance Sky-Futures position as a leading drone technology company.
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About Sky-Futures: Sky-Futures is a provider of drone-based inspection and data services to the industrial inspection market.
Suhayl Zulfiquar
Chief Operating Officer of Datatecnics
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About Datatecnics: Datatecnics is an intelligent infrastructure firm revolutionizing global asset management with predictive analytics.
David Wright
Chief Operating Officer of Optimus Capital
David is the Chief Operating Officer at Optimus Capital. David WrightDavid joined Optimus Capital in October 2018. Previously he worked at Harmonic Capital, a macro hedge fund manager, where he was Chief Financial Officer and Risk Officer. Prior to that at Deloitte LLP where he specialised in Investment Management audit. He is an Associate Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering with First Class Honours.
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About Optimus Capital: Optimus Capital provider of asset and portfolio management services.
Francois Devillez
Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer of AlphaSwap
Francois is a Blockchain consultant and entrepreneur. He previously consulted at Espeo Software, Larvol and various multinationals. Francois has a Master in Law from Free University of Brussels, a Master in Tax Management from Solvay Business School and a Master in Business Management from Vlerick Business School.
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About AlphaSwap, Forbes, Forbes Business Council, LARVOL: AlphaSwap is an investment technology platform, bundling its analyst community’s best stock ideas into Data-as-a-Service
Ian Hammond
COO of GeoSpock
Ian has a strong background in technology and business operations at both small and large scale, bringing 15+ years of experience from leadership roles in telco, media, and technology organizations as well as the UK public sector. He spent 5 years living in the Netherlands where he led a global team as SVP of Technology Operations at TomTom, responsible for delivering and supporting global digital services to millions of consumers as well as B2B services to some of the world’s largest companies. Most recently Ian held C-level positions within central government and a UK based procurement technology SME. Ian joins the GeoSpock management team to build and lead the operations function, delivering and supporting solutions for GeoSpock customers.
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About GeoSpock: GeoSpock builds GeoSpock DB, the unique space-time analytics database that delivers rapid insights at a fraction of the cost.
Ian Hammond
COO of GeoSpock
Ian has a strong background in technology and business operations at both small and large scale, bringing 15+ years of experience from leadership roles in telco, media, and technology organizations as well as the UK public sector. He spent 5 years living in the Netherlands where he led a global team as SVP of Technology Operations at TomTom, responsible for delivering and supporting global digital services to millions of consumers as well as B2B services to some of the world’s largest companies. Most recently Ian held C-level positions within central government and a UK based procurement technology SME. Ian joins the GeoSpock management team to build and lead the operations function, delivering and supporting solutions for GeoSpock customers.
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About GeoSpock: GeoSpock builds GeoSpock DB, the unique space-time analytics database that delivers rapid insights at a fraction of the cost.
Tauhid Ali
COO & Director of JATT Acquisition
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About JATT Acquisition: JATT Acquisition provides fund assistance to businesses from the life sciences sector.
Ben Russell
Chief Operating Officer & Compliance Officer of GVQ Investment Management
Ben was appointed the COO and Compliance Officer for GVQIM in January 2016. He was previously Head of Finance & Operations and joined the company in 2006. Prior to joining, Ben worked for Schroder Investment Management for 12 years in a number of finance, operations and project roles. Ben is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
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About GVQ Investment Management: GVQ Investment Management is a manager of public equity funds.
Nikolai Hack
COO of Nucoro
Nikolai comes from a consultancy background with extensive experience across European bluechip clients in various sectors for BearingPoint (former KPMG). Nikolai has spent the majority of his career focused on operational excellence and process consulting projects as well as roles globally in business and policy. Nikolai has an MSc in Political Economy from LSE.
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About Nucoro: Nucoro enables financial institutions to build digital savings, investment and wealth management propositions at speed and scale.
Jackie McKay
Chief Operating Officer of Frontier IP Group plc
Jackie is the Group’s Chief Operating Officer, supporting the Chief Executive in the delivery of the Group’s objectives. She has substantial experience of the university IP and venture capital industries and has been working with Frontier IP since its inception to help develop new and existing commercialisation relationships. Jackie spent nearly ten years at Sigma Capital Group plc, latterly as Corporate Development Director, where she was responsible for structuring and setting up venture funds and university partnerships. Prior to Sigma, Jackie spent 12 years with Bank of Scotland. She has an MA in Psychology.
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About Frontier IP Group plc: Frontier IP Group plc is a specialist asset management group.
John Pryce
Chief Operating Officer of Eschler Asset Management
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About Eschler Asset Management: Eschler Asset Management is an independent investment company that invests in out-of-favor companies with strong recovery potential.
Shailash Sanghrajka
Technical Chief Operating Officer of Hentsu
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About Hentsu: Hentsū is the hedge fund and asset management technology specialist.
