Ian is non-Voting Chairman of the Voting Panel. Throughout his career, Ian has been involved in the quoted growth companies sector. His early career was as a stockbroker, analyst, broadcaster and financial journalist in this area and, since founding Design Portfolio in 1991, he has been active in helping many companies in this sector with their investor communication and corporate reporting requirements.

Ian is the founder of the AIM Awards, a Director of Ford Sinclair Ltd., Chairman of Flathill Communications Group plc, President of The Design Portfolio Marketing Services Inc. and a member of the Investor Relations Society.

Peter joined Shore Capital as an Equity Research Analyst – Growth Companies in April 2019. Prior to this, Peter worked for Stockdale Securities, which he joined in December 2015. Before this he worked for Charles Stanley Securities, which he joined in 2002. Prior to this he worked for Teather & Greenwood, Albert E Sharp, Citicorp Scrimgeour Vickers and SG Warburg among others. He has specialised in the smaller companies sector for over 25 years, having covered a broad range of both Main Market and AIM companies.

Kit is responsible for originating and executing initial public offerings for Link across AIM and the Main Market with a particular focus on significant, innovative or wide-ranging appointments. Kit has nearly 20 years’ experience in the equities industry, working in UK equity capital markets since 2005, during which time he has been responsible for the operational execution of some of the highest profile and largest fundraising corporate transactions in the UK. Prior to joining Link, Kit spent twelve years working for J.P. Morgan Cazenove.

Sam is Investment Director – UK Smaller Companies, having joined Close Asset Management Limited in September 2008 from Unicorn Asset Management. He runs the Smaller Companies team at Close Brothers, managing AIM-quoted IHT, EIS and segregated portfolios. Sam has extensive experience in managing smaller company funds and is a holder of both the Investment Management Certificate and the CISI Diploma.

Arun has over 15 years’ experience covering the Technology sector. During this time, he has worked with technology start-ups and as an equity analyst in investment banks and independent research firms. He was formerly a Technology Analyst for Canaccord Genuity, Altium Securities, Espirito Santo Investment Bank, Noble Group and Clear Capital. He has a dual Master’s degree in Financial Engineering and Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. He is also a CFA charterholder.

We are delighted to welcome Dominic to the Voting Panel, further details will be available in due course.  

Nick helps schools, charities and businesses with a wide range of employment and HR issues. He deals with day to day advisory work for organisations in relation to disciplinary and grievance matters and also drafts tailored employment contracts, policies and procedures and employee handbooks. Nick acts for independent schools of all sizes and understands the specific HR issues that arise for schools. He has particular expertise in advising on internal restructures and reorganisations as well as TUPE transfers.

Anna is an experienced Fund Manager specialising in UK equities. Anna joined the Amati team in 2018 from Adam and Company, where she led research for the PAM award-winning wealth manager. She brings her expertise in running the successful AIM-listed portfolio service to Amati, as well as a breadth of experience in managing substantial OEICs, private client and charity portfolios. She co-managed the Adam Worldwide Fund and the Stewart Ivory Investment Markets Fund which won three Lipper Awards under her stewardship. Anna contributes regularly to BBC Scotland.

Judith is Partner and Head of Downing Fund Managers, having joined Downing LLP in October 2009 and founded Downing Fund Managers. Judith also manages the Downing Strategic Microcap Investment Trust and other micro-cap mandates, and has a 22 year track record in small and micro-cap investing. Previously she was a partner at Acuity Capital, a buy-out from Electra Private Equity, where she managed small company assets with an activist strategy. Prior to this, Judith spent nine years with Aberdeen Asset Management Growth Capital as Co-Fund Manager of five Aberdeen VCTs, where she focused on technology and media investments in both the public and private arenas. Judith holds a number of directorships and is a Non Executive Director of the Quoted Company Alliance.

Fraser has had a 26-year career in the UK equity markets, working in sales and corporate broking. His focus has always been on advising and raising funds for UK companies. He started his career with Kleinwort Benson in 1994 before joining Evolution Securities in 2002, at its inception, managing the Equity Sales desk. In 2008, Fraser joined Collins Stewart to run the small-cap franchise and then joined The Royal Bank of Canada in 2009 as part of the rollout of its European Equities platform. Subsequently, Fraser joined Arden Partners in 2017, as Head of Equities and a member of its Senior Management team. Fraser joined WH Ireland in 2020 as Head of Capital Markets.

Rich has in excess of two decades of equity market experience, around half of which was gained as part of the top rated UBS Pan European Equity business in London. During that period Rich held senior positions across equity distribution, sales trading and trading with all roles anchored on senior management level discourse with both senior fund managers and board level management of both listed and unlisted business. 

Julian is an Executive Director and Head of Growth Companies at Cenkos and was a founding member of the team in 2006. He has over 23 years’ experience in the City in sales and as an analyst. He has led and worked on over 250 transactions in his career and before Cenkos was a Director at Beeson Gregory and Evolution Securities.

Richard is Head of the Quoted Smaller Companies team at Octopus, having joined in 2004. He has over 25 years’ experience of managing UK smaller companies funds and is in charge of managing the FP Octopus UK Micro-Cap Growth Fund. Richard has also worked at Close Brothers and Duncan Lawrie.

Brough is the Healthcare Specialist Equity Salesman at Investec, prior to his current role he has spent the past 23 years in Healthcare specialist roles at a number of brokers including Nomura, Merrill Lynch, ING and latterly N+1 Singer.

Philip is the Founder of Raynar Portfolio Management and Portfolio Manager of the Raynar Flagship Strategy. Philip is a multi-award-winning investor specialising in UK equities. He was named Investment Week UK Smaller Companies Fund Manager of the Year 2010 and 2011 during his tenure at Investec Asset Management and the Financial Express UK Smaller Companies Alpha Fund Manager 2016 during his tenure at River and Mercantile where he also created and managed the winner of What Investment Trust’s UK Smaller Companies Investment Trust of the Year 2017. Awarded the prestigious cross-asset accolade of Morningstar Outstanding Rising Talent 2012, Philip has two decades of experience investing in the UK market, with a particular focus on AiM listed firms.

We are delighted to welcome Josh to the Voting Panel, further details will be available in due course.  

Paul heads up the quoted investment team and is based in the London office. Paul has over 15 years’ experience investing in listed companies, having worked in the Quoted Smaller Companies Equities team at Octopus Investments, where he contributed to the outperformance of funds-under-management during that time.

Paul focuses on identifying investment opportunities in AIM listed companies as part of the BGF Quoted offering, which is supported by BGF’s nationwide investment team. He has recently joined the BGF Investment Committee.

Victoria joined the Economic Advantage team at Liontrust in 2015 as a Partner and Fund Manager, to help research and analyse investment opportunities primarily across the small cap universe. She is a CFA charterholder and co-manager of the Liontrust UK Smaller Companies Fund and the Liontrust UK Micro-Cap Fund. Victoria previously worked at the growth company specialist broking and advisory firm finnCap Ltd, latterly as Deputy Head of Corporate Broking.

James has over 30 years’ experience in the City, initially joining the Asset Management department of Montagu Loebl Stanley (part of the Robert Fleming Group) in 1986 before going on to work at Greig Middleton, Seymour Pierce Butterfield and Henry Cooke Lumsden, followed by 16 years in corporate broking and institutional sales (latterly as Director of Equities at Charles Stanley Securities). James is a member of both the European Issuers Small and Mid Cap Awards jury panel and the LSE AIM Advisory Group. He joined Winterflood Securities in November 2015.

Matt is the founder and MD of ONE Advisory that provides Corporate Governance, Co-sec and Compliance services as well as Financial Reporting services to over 50 AIM Companies. Matt has more than 20 years’ growth company advisory experience, especially with AIM companies, and has acted as Non-executive Directors of AIM companies since 2006. Before setting up ONE Advisory, Matt worked in corporate finance at Beeson Gregory and Evolution Securities. Matt is a chartered accountant and holds a first class degree in Economics.