SME fund appoints Keith Barclay to investment team
The Business Growth Fund has expanded its investment team in Aberdeen with the appointment of Keith Barclay, taking its dedicated investment staff in Scotland to ten people.
Mr Barclay joins the fund’s 70-strong nationwide investment team responsible for providing long-term minority growth capital for small to mid-sized businesses.
He joins BGF from Souter Investments, the private investment vehicle of Sir Brian Souter. Before that, Mr Barclay worked at boutique corporate finance house Blas and originally trained and qualified as a lawyer at Shepherd & Wedderburn.
Mike Sibson of BGF’s Aberdeen office said: “Market conditions are tough in the energy sector, but difficult markets can also provide opportunity.
“Building and positioning during a downturn can create a strong business ready to accelerate its growth when the market turns. BGF is here to support businesses, which aim to do just that.”
New chairman for IP firm
Maureen Kinsler has been appointed the Edinburgh-based international chairman of Marks & Clerk, a global intellectual property service provider and the UK’s largest firm of patent and trade mark attorneys.
From Renfrew, educated in Glasgow and now based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, Ms Kinsler has been elected for a three-year term and will be working with the global boards to lead the business.
Ms Kinsler, who joined Marks & Clerk in 2002 and was made partner in 2004, said she intends to place a renewed focus on SMEs in her new role, aiming to drive fresh innovation across Scotland and the world.
She said: “This is a very exciting time to become chairman of Marks & Clerk’s international business. We have a young partnership, a strong reputation and a wide and diverse client base. This is particularly the case in Scotland, where we support a whole range of local SMEs, multi-nationals and universities.”
Ms Kinsler was elected after Keith Hodkinson stepped down from his position as international chairman.
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