BGF promotes Andy Gregory to CIO and announces a shakeup of its regional leadership teams

BGF has announced that Andy Gregory, current Head of Investments, UK & Ireland, has taken on a new role as Chief Investment Officer within the business.

Andy has been with BGF since 2011, joining as regional director for the North of England. In his new role, he will oversee investment activity and portfolio management across all business areas including growth, earlier-stage and quoted. He sits on the board of BGF and will report into Stephen Welton, executive chairman at BGF.

Before BGF, Andy held senior roles in the private equity industry, including LivingBridge and Bridgepoint.

In addition, Richard Taylor, who is the head of BGF for Yorkshire and the North East will move into a new national-facing role as Head of Growth, responsible for overseeing BGF’s growth-stage investments, while Barry Jackson, investor at BGF who has been with the business since 2013, will take on the role of Head of Yorkshire & North East.

Commenting on his new role, Andy said: “I’m delighted to be moving into this new role, taking a 360 view of the business across new and existing portfolio companies. With record results in 2020 and a strong pipeline of activity over the first quarter of this year, we’ve never been in a stronger position to facilitate the growth strategies of ambitious companies. I’m looking forward to supporting investment teams across BGF’s network to back even more exciting companies, and to help our portfolio companies reach the next stage of growth.”

Richard Taylor said: “I’m really looking forward to this next challenge which will allow me to focus on the growth businesses that are the lifeblood of BGF’s offering. The team is in good hands with Barry who has led on some of the biggest deals completed in Yorkshire and North East and is an integral part of the region’s growth economy.”

Barry Jackson added: “It’s a huge accolade to lead the office in the Yorkshire and the North East. There is a wealth of ambitious businesses across the north of England that are looking for a supportive equity partner to help them realise their growth potential. I’m looking forward to bringing my experience to the fore, to build on the successful track record of investments that the team has delivered to date.”

BGF was set up in 2011 and has invested £2.5bn in more than 400 companies, making it the most active investor in the UK. As a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook on investments, it backs growing businesses in the UK & Ireland through its network of 16 offices.