London, 8 January 2020
Cairngorm Capital is delighted to announce the promotions of Amit Thaper, Joanna Hylton and Emilia Wood. Amit and Jo joined the firm in 2017 and Emilia in early 2018. Their promotions recognise the significant contribution made by each of them to Cairngorm Capital’s sustained growth and success.
Amit is promoted to become a Managing Director of Cairngorm Capital and joins the firm’s Investment Committee alongside Lee Hess, Andrew Steel, Alex Bayliss, John Naylor-Leyland and Neil McGill. Having formerly practiced as an orthopaedic surgeon with the NHS, Amit has successfully led Cairngorm Capital’s entry into the assisted living industry sector. This has been a long-held objective of the firm, given our expectation that the ageing population in the UK will increase demand for high-quality, specialist providers of mobility and support services. In addition to his many other contributions to the growth of Cairngorm Capital’s investment business, in July 2019 Amit led the acquisition of Millbrook Healthcare Limited together with its subsidiaries, Ultimate Healthcare Limited and Consolor Limited and is a Board member of Millbrook as it seeks to accelerate its growth.
Joanna Hylton has been promoted to Finance Director of Cairngorm Capital. Since joining the firm as Finance Manager in 2017, Jo has played a pivotal role in managing the firm’s fund administration activities, leading investor relations and regulatory compliance, and in supporting the Finance Directors of Cairngorm Capital’s eight portfolio companies. Since Jo joined, Cairngorm Capital’s funds under management have increased from £180m to over £300m.
Emilia Wood joined Cairngorm Capital in early 2018 and quickly became crucial in the smooth running of our London office. Emilia provides support to our senior investment team, Operating Partners and portfolio company management teams. Emilia is now also promoted to become Office Manager of Cairngorm Capital’s London office.
Since 2014, Cairngorm Capital has expanded steadily to establish a talented team of investment professionals, Operating Partners and Non-Executive Directors. The firm invests in strongly performing UK companies, partnering with their management teams to drive transformation by enhancing performance, extending geographic reach and expanding product offerings.
This approach has resulted in the creation of eight portfolio companies, with combined revenues of over £800m and more than 5000 employees, covering a broad range of activities: online distributor of building products, Building Supplies Online; window and door manufacturer Customade Group; Thames Valley builders’ merchant Grant & Stone; Sussex & Kent builders’ merchant Independent Builders’ Merchant Group; assisted living support services firm Millbrook Healthcare; supplier of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) components MRO+ Solutions; timber merchant, National Timber Group; and fire door systems manufacturer Sentry Doors. Typically, portfolio companies have more than doubled in scale within the first year following Cairngorm Capital’s investment.
Andrew Steel, Founder and Managing Partner of Cairngorm Capital said, “I would like to congratulate Amit, Jo and Emilia. They have each played a central role in the success of our business and that of our portfolio companies. They are influential members of our team and we are delighted to be able to recognise their achievements.”
Lee Hess, Chairman of Cairngorm Capital said, “My congratulations to Amit, Jo and Emilia. Their promotions are recognition and endorsement of the expertise, talent and style with which they have each contributed since joining our firm.”
