Ronan joined Hollyport in 2018, and is a Senior Associate within the investment team in London. His core responsibilities are originating and evaluating potential LP and GP-led transactions, taking a lead role in the project team to mentor the investment associates and form the investment thesis for presentation at Investment Committee. Working at Hollyport has enhanced Ronan’s problem-solving skills, which are central to the way we approach transactions.
Prior to joining Hollyport, Ronan completed an accountancy training contract in the banking and capital markets assurance department at Ernst & Young.
Ronan studied Economics at the University of Nottingham, and holds an MSc in International Management from the London School of Economics. Outside of work, you’ll find Ronan playing and watching a variety of sports.
Alex joined Hollyport in 2018 and is a Senior Associate in the investment team in London. His main focus is originating, evaluating and presenting LP and GP-led transactions to the Investment Committee. He mentors junior investment team members and takes a lead on internal processes to originate deal flow from fund managers and vendors. In his time at Hollyport, Alex has improved his presenting and negotiating skills having learnt from the firm’s senior staff.
Alex graduated with a Masters in Mathematics from the University of Oxford and is a designated Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst. In his free time, Alex enjoys team sports – a skill which translates well into his mentoring role at Hollyport.
Prior to joining Hollyport, Alex started his career in the banking and capital markets audit and assurance department at PwC, where he obtained his ACA qualification.
Richard is a Partner in the Investment Team, based in the London Office.
Richard joined Hollyport in 2015 as an Associate. During his time in the business he has worked on over 80 successful transactions, building strong relationships with fund managers and intermediaries and sourcing proprietary investment opportunities.
He became Partner in 2021, and in addition to being a member of the Investment Committee is responsible for sourcing, negotiating and executing both LP portfolio and GP-led transactions. He works alongside the other investment team Partners to lead and develop the junior team, chairing internal projects to challenge thinking and lead innovation.
Richard is a qualified ACA having started his career at PwC where he worked in transaction services prior to joining Hollyport. Richard graduated from Newcastle University with a First Class Honours in BA Business, Accounting and Finance.
Richard lives in London with his wife and young daughter, who takes up most of his free time!
Ed is Partner and Chief Operating Officer, based in the London Office.
Ed joined Hollyport in May 2011, becoming a Partner in April 2013. During his time at Hollyport he has led over 50 transactions with a focus on the LP transactional side of the business, and has been a member on the Investment Committee since Hollyport’s third fund.
Ed also acts as COO and oversees the operations of the Group, and has been instrumental in building out the non-investment team functions over time, such as the finance monitoring and reporting, HR, compliance and data analytical functions. Ed is an FCA after qualifying as an ACA with Deloitte in London, and prior to joining Hollyport worked in corporate finance advisory at two London-based boutique firms. Ed holds a BSc honours degree in Natural Sciences from Durham University.
Ed lives in Richmond with his wife, their two young daughters and two dogs. His weekends are filled with watching, cheering and the occasional coaching of his daughters’ sporting pursuits, dog walks and the occasional games of golf and Padel.
James is a Partner in the Investment team, leading deals and sitting on the Investment Committee.
James leads the firms Vendor Origination programme, sourcing LP portfolios from vendors across multiple asset classes.
In 2018 he moved to New York to open Hollyport’s first US-based office location and over a four year period built the US team and established Hollyport’s presence in the US market.
Following his move back to London, James manages the development of the junior investment team, alongside his deal appraisal and origination work.
James is a qualified ACA, having qualified in Crowe audit programme before moving into the corporate finance team. James graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in Accounting and Finance.
Outside of work James spends his time unsuccessfully trying to appease his toddler twin boys.
Steve has been a direct private equity investor since 1997. He Joined Hollyport in December 2013 and is now a Senior Partner and Head of GP-led solutions.
Having trained as an accountant, Steve worked at SBC Warburg for 7 years before joining 3i in 1997. Steve has extensive geographic experience having led investments across Europe and North America and directly overseen investments in Asia. Having led 3i’s UK Private Equity business he became a founding Partner of 3i Growth Capital, chaired the Investment Committee and was responsible for leading 3i’s first ever Growth Capital fundraising of €1.2billion.
Steve holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Outside of work, Steve particularly enjoys tennis, skiing, golf and cooking. He is also working on his ability to burn up the dance floor with salsa dancing lessons.
John is Partner and Chief Executive Officer, based in the London office.
John was a co-founder of Hollyport in 2006 and has led its growth from $10m under management at the outset to $5bn today. He is responsible for the strategic evolution of the firm and, as chair of the Investment Committee, oversees all of its investment activities. He has a strong belief in supporting the development of everyone in the business to achieve their full potential, reflected in the fact that the majority of current partners joined Hollyport as junior recruits.
John has been a private equity investor since 1987, initially as a direct investor at 3i, where he was a Director within the London investment team with responsibility for mid-market buyout and growth capital investments. John holds an honours degree in Engineering from University College London.
John is a keen cook and enjoys visiting many of the excellent restaurants that London has to offer with his wife and, occasionally, his three children. He is a frustrated golfer who still believes that improvement would be possible if he could just find the time.
