NEIL McGill, who used to head accountancy firm BDO’s mergers and acquisitions team in Scotland, has joined the Cairngorm Capital private equity business and will lead its hunt for more deals in the country.

Mr McGill has been appointed investment director at Cairngorm Capital, whose portfolio includes the Livington-based Stevenswood window making and trade counters business.

Describing Mr McGill as an M&A heavyweight, Cairngorm said he would bring experience and calibre as the firm looks to deploy the £180 million capital it has available for investment.

Mr McGill said he was looking forward to working with portfolio companies and to sourcing new investments for Cairngorm, which is based in London.

He has been appointed a director of Stevenswood.

Educated at Glasgow Academy and Durham University, Mr McGill has gained over 16 years’ experience in M&A markets including seven spent at BDO in Scotland.

The deals he advised on at BDO included the sale of the Edinburgh Gin business to Ian Macleod Distillers and the management buyout of Premier Hytemp from Murray International Holdings, which was backed by Dunedin Capital Partners.

Before joining BDO he was a director and shareholder in the Tiger Advisers business and spent six years at ABN Amro investment bank in London.

He qualified as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young.

Cairngorm said it invests in successful mid-market UK companies in the manufacturing, distribution and services industries, with operating profits in the £2 million to £20m range. It looks for firms that have shown they can handle economic volatility.

The firm has made six investments. Its portfolio also includes the Customade window manufacturing group.

In March the firm supported Stevenswood’s acquisition of the Truemans Holdings trade counters business, which increased its presence in the north and midlands of England.

Cairngorm was founded in 2014 by Andrew Steel who moved into private equity with America’s H.I.G. Capital after working in the consulting and building materials industries.

Last month Cairngorm completed raising its second fund after securing £107.5m commitments from investors.