Operating Partners
Although we invest in companies operating in most commercial and industrial sectors, the majority of investments broadly fit within those sectors listed below. In each sector, we work with a highly experienced Operating Partner who has direct management experience and a wide range of contacts. This deepens our understanding of the sector and increases our capacity to offer valuable non-executive support.
Bob Fairchild
Sector: Information Technology
Bob first worked with Matrix 11 years ago when invited to become Managing Director of leading information provider, Landmark Information Group> Bob sold Landmark to Daily Mail and General Trust in 2003, delivering strong returns for his investors. Landmark went from start up to a £60m revenue business over a 10 year period. In 2004 Bob led the buyout and became Chairman of Propertyflow, a leading online conveyancing search provider. Bob’s original career commenced in Civil Engineering after which he moved into property and finance with Bank of America and Royal Trust.
Ashley Levinson
Sector: Food/Construction/Support Services
Having successfully founded his own business which he sold to Macquarie Bank, Ashley has acted as a strategic consultant to a mix of clients including IT, food companies and construction. He now specialises in exit planning both for private and private equity-backed businesses, helping management maximise shareholder value. Ashley is currently Chairman of Pasta King, a highly successful business providing healthy food solutions to high volume outlets. Ashley was instrumental in creating the original Management Buy Out opportunity having worked with the company and management team over an extended period, when he was heavily involved in strategy and succession management.
Iain Livingston
Sector: Media/Marketing Services
Iain has been working with Matrix for over seven years and since early 2005 has been Chairman of Tottel Publishing, the MBO of the publisher of specialist legal and taxation titles backed by Matrix-advised VCT funds in 2004. Iain has had a long and diversified management career working for such companies as ICI, Xerox UK and British Rail, the last as Director of Quality in the period immediately prior to privatisation. His role included the commissioning of customer satisfaction surveys, which led him into the market research industry with Maven Management Limited. Iain joined Maven in 1995, initially as Operations Director; in February 2000 he led a MBO of Maven, financed by Matrix Income & Growth 4 VCT. The company, which has grown a strong client list including Daimler Chrysler, Tesco, British Gas and Lloyds TSB Bank, was sold in early 2007 to Munro Global. Iain brings to bear on Tottel his strengths in marketing services and media, allied to his success as a private equity-backed owner-manager, and is working closely with Matrix to utilise his specialisation in these sectors on new investment opportunities.
Tim Ross
Sector: Support Services/Construction
Tim brings significant expertise in construction, building materials, support services, waste management and heavy transport as well as a strong track record in building entrepreneurial businesses and managing the transition to operating in the public markets. Tim was a main board director of George Wimpey PLC during the 1990s and has since chaired or acted as non-executive director for nine listed companies including Connaught Plc and May Gurney Plc. His recent private company experience encompasses concrete products, insulation materials, lift services and waste management. Tim is Chairman of Matrix investee company, Apollo, a lift manufacturing and service business.
Dick Steele
Sector: Healthcare/Wellbeing/Retail & Consumer Brands
Dick has a strong retail and consumer products background. Dick is currently chairman of two of MPEP’s current investments, CB Imports plc, a distributor and retailer of floral sundries, and Racoon International, the UK’s leading supplier of hair extensions. He previously chaired Matrix investee Original Additions, Europe’s premier supplier of false finger nails and associated accessories. Dick is also Chairman of Portmeirion Group, an AIM listed ceramics business. He is a former Finance Director of Storehouse Group Plc. Since the late 1990s he has been instrumental in the development of a number of entrepreneurial businesses including Whitecross Group, a dental chain, Cotswold Outdoor and Rohan.
