Ian Merricks – Managing Partner

White Horse Capital’s (WHC) commercial and corporate development consultancy is led by Ian Merricks, an experienced company operator and investor. Ian’s varied commercial experience includes senior commercial roles across media and technology, corporate development within FTSE companies and operational experience from a raft of entrepreneurial pursuits across the music, radio, publishing, digital media and marcomms industries.

Ian has been involved in numerous start-ups, acquisitions, turnarounds and disposals accumulating a strong contact base and reputation across the London based investment community. He is regularly asked to take part in strategic UK governmental business initiatives, influential speaking events and corporate advisory panels.

Keith Marriott – Partner

WHC’s lead on financial management is Keith Marriott. A Chartered Accountant, Keith has worked in the broad media sector for some 25 years covering most aspects of media related finance – consumer & B2B magazine brands, awards, events, digital brands (including games), eCommerce, sampling, contract publishing, book publishing and licensing.

Keith spent some 13 years as Finance Director for the UK consumer magazine division of Emap plc where he was influential in a number of successful turnarounds, mergers, acquisitions and disposal initiatives. Since that time Keith has worked in an interim finance director/CFO capacity for a number of clients on both short and long-term assignments, some on an equity basis; notable equity clients include Unruly Media and Don’t Panic. Current clients include the Professional Publishers Association (PPA), Gruppo Media, The Stage and Newsflare.

Keith has lived and worked in the UK, France, Australia and the USA and as a founding Partner of WHC, has been integral to a number of our client successes.

Simon Fox – Investment Director

Simon Fox leads the capital raising advisory and brokerage. Joining the team in 2016 Simon brings some 25 years’ sales management, business advisory and fund raising experience. Prior to WHC Simon founded GlobalXtend Limited, a TMT focused managed sales outsourcing practice primarily targeting North American technology organisations looking to enter or further expand within the broad EMEA region. In addition, GlobalXtend also acted in a corporate capital raising/advisory role, representing clients in a range of UK, US and Asian Private Equity and fund of funds placements.

Prior to GlobalXtend, Simon founded and grew the EMEA operations for a number of US-based technology companies including Insignia Inc., developer of mobile device software sub systems, Voxware Inc., music and audio compression technologies and VideoServer Inc, developer of video conferencing solutions. Subsequently sold to the Racal Electronics Group, Simon executed a management buyout while working at The Software Forge Limited, transitioning a bespoke software development house into an efficient, product focused operation.

Duncan Knight – Head of Cohort Investment

Duncan leads The VenturePath activity around cohort investment. Prior to joining White Horse Capital in 2019, Duncan worked internationally for more than 25 years in the broad B2B enterprise sector operating from a range of locations in Australia, Asia, Europe, UK and the US. His primary business skills and experience includes investment readiness, growth, operations and talent acquisition.

Duncan co-founded and managed 2 businesses for 15 years. Most recently, he acted as both the CEO and CTO of MyCognition, a disruptive HealthTech startup. Previously, Duncan co-founded BizCarta Australia, an IT services consulting firm focused on blue-chip organisations before exiting in a successful trade sale. Duncan served on the board of the Sydney chapter of The Entrepreneurs Organisation for 3 years and has been a technology advisor to a number of companies involved in M&A activities.

Piers Linney – Venture Partner

Piers is an experienced entrepreneur, founder, adviser, director and investor with a law and investment banking background in the City. He is a well-known champion of entrepreneurship, startups and SMEs having been an investor on Dragons’ Den (2013-2015), making one of the show’s most successful investments in Google Ventures backed tech startup, Wonderbly. In addition to his Dragon’s Den success, Piers previously founded and exited several technology companies leading to him being voted inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year at the EY Sponsored Black British Business Award.

Until recently Piers acted as a Non-Executive Director for the UK government-owned economic development bank, British Business Bank, which has facilitated over £12 billion of funding for UK SMEs. In addition, Piers sat on the Board of TechUK, was a Trustee of the leading innovation foundation Nesta and recognised in 2019 by the Financial Times as one of the UK’s top 100 most influential BAME tech. sector leaders.

Graham Stedman – Board Advisor

Graham brings close to 40 years Legal, SME and TMT experience, having acted as a trusted board advisor to SMEs and entrepreneurs as counsel to a wide variety of growth companies. During his legal career Graham has advised numerous SMEs and high-growth tech businesses on their expansion strategies and on all aspects of business fundraising and corporate finance activity.

He was responsible for establishing the dedicated Entrepreneurs’ Group at Nabarro LLP, and as Senior Partner oversaw Nabarro’s annual revenue growth in excess of £125m and secured a double digit increase in profitability for each year of his tenure. Graham also chaired Nabarro’s partnership board and was responsible for developing the strategic direction of the firm, overseeing its implementation and representing the firm to the marketplace. He was also a partner in the firm’s corporate group, advising on all aspects of corporate finance transactions, corporate regulation and compliance.

Christopher Weston – Chairman

White Horse Capital is chaired by Christopher Weston, a seasoned private equity investor, Freeman of the City of London, distinguished member of the Worshipful Co of Painter-Stainers and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Christopher is life president of auctioneers Phillips Son & Neale, where he served as Chairman and Chief Exec between 1972-98 before successfully exiting via a trade sale. He was also a Director of Foreign & Colonial Pacific Investment plc / Foreign & Colonial Enterprise Trust plc between 1984-99; one of the largest global growth investment trusts in the world.