News
Rivers make two new appointments to the senior team
Emma Neal
22 Sep 2016
Founder of Tiger Corporate Finance Ltd, Roland Tate joins the board of Directors at regional venture capital fund managers, Rivers Capital Partners.
Previously working for BP then as a venture capitalist and corporate finance director, Roland is an active Fellow of the Chartered Securities Institute and an FCA authorised person for corporate finance regulated activities. Now operating a niche corporate finance house specialising in SME deal origination, negotiation and completion, Roland works with and represents the High Net worth Investors (HNWI's) who appraise and complete equity investments.
Joining Rivers as a Director, Roland will be working with the Board of Directors to build private investor syndicates and stimulate Business Angel activity in the region.
He said of his new role, “Rivers have both investment expertise and entrepreneurial backgrounds and I’m looking forward to building on the strong investor relations they have developed in and out of the region.”
Roland joins Rivers alongside second new recruit Simon Johnson who, after launching his own funding and consultancy business, joined Rivers to work on several specialist debt projects and reinforce the company’s overall debt offering into the future.
Simon has led on many debt based deals from the current Finance for Business North East Funds attracting high levels of private finance into local companies as a result. A Maths graduate joining Barclays plc from university, Simon specialised in Corporate Relationship Banking.
He currently holds the Investment Management Certificate of the UK Society of Investment Professionals, the Institute of Directors Diploma in Company Direction and is an FCA Approved Person.
Simon previously worked for NEL Fund Managers Limited and was responsible for the marketing and successful investment of the North East Growth Fund, the £26 million mezzanine debt fund within the JEREMIE programme. He joins Rivers as Head of Strategic Debt Funds.
Simon said, “I’m looking forward to working alongside the team to support the growth and innovation of more regional businesses and help Rivers realise their strategic long-term objectives.”
Roland and Simon join the company working alongside founders Dr John White, Jonathan Gold and Peter Hiscocks.
Managers of the £10.5m North East Angel Fund and the £7.5m North East Microloan Fund from the Finance for Business North East programme, Rivers has supported the growth and innovation of products and services in SME’s across the region since 2010.
Jonathan Gold, Managing Director said, “Both Simon and Roland bring invaluable experience and additional depth to our growing team. Simon is taking the lead on some great new projects, watch this space.”
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