London, 27 February 2017
Cairngorm Capital is delighted to announce the appointment of Stuart Whiteford as Investment Manager, extending the firm’s capacity for new investments.
Stuart joins from the EuroAsia Special Assets Group at Goldman Sachs, where he was an Executive Director involved in strategy and investment for a range of European opportunities. Prior to Goldman Sachs, Stuart was a member of Citigroup’s UK Investment Banking Team, advising companies and private equity investors on mergers, acquisitions and equity capital market transactions. As an Investment Manager at Cairngorm Capital, he will source new opportunities, execute transactions and work in partnership with the management teams of Cairngorm Capital’s portfolio companies.
Stuart’s appointment is the first of several that are planned to enlarge Cairngorm Capital’s investment team over the next few months. His arrival is part of Cairngorm Capital’s ongoing and carefully controlled expansion of its business, following an intensely successful period, which has seen the company complete five investments since July 2016 and increase the committed capital in its first fund by 40%. The firm will shortly announce the closing of its second investment fund.
Building on Cairngorm Capital’s unique mix of sectoral expertise and investment skill, Stuart joins the team led by Andrew Steel and comprising Investment Directors, Alex Bayliss and John Naylor-Leyland, together with Cairngorm Capital’s Operating Partners, Jon Gatfield, John Declerck and Oliver Robinson.
Andrew Steel, Managing Partner of Cairngorm Capital said, “We are delighted to have Stuart join our team. He has the proven calibre, experience and style to complement and broaden the capabilities of our team, enabling us to increase the range of investment opportunities that we can explore. We are unusual as private equity investors, in being actively involved in the strategy and operational focus of our portfolio companies. We commit considerable time to support each of our management teams in their plans to enhance their businesses. Our management teams will be delighted to have access to Stuart’s talents.”
Lee Hess, Chairman of Cairngorm Capital added, “Stuart joining our firm is terrific news. We are thrilled that he is bringing his expertise and talent to Cairngorm Capital and we are delighted to welcome him to our team.”
Cairngorm Capital invests in well performing, UK headquartered, mid-market companies, earning operating profit of £2 million – £20 million in manufacturing, distribution and services industries. It is interested in firms that can weather economic volatility, have shown consistent historical growth and have significant future growth prospects. A priority is the quality and success of the management team, as Cairngorm Capital builds and realises value through growth and operating improvements, not through financial engineering.
For further information, please contact Katherine Ritchie on 020 8347 6183 or 07941 040021
Notes to editors
• Cairngorm Capital Partners LLP is a specialist private investment firm providing equity capital and management expertise to leading UK companies. It invests in well-performing, private mid-market growth companies in manufacturing, distribution and services industries. The firm’s goal is to build and realise value through growth and performance improvements. Cairngorm Capital’s unique mix of sectoral expertise and investment skill enables it to be actively involved in the strategy and operational focus of portfolio companies, partnering with management teams to grow revenue, enhance margins, improve cash flow or consolidate industry leadership positions.
View the pdf version: Cairngorm Capital Press Release 27.02.17 pdf
