DSW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive and DSW Group Partner
Andy joined Dow Schofield Watts as a Partner in May 2003. Previously, he had spent five years in KPMG's Corporate Finance team in Manchester advising across a wide variety of transactions and sectors.
Following graduation from Durham University and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Andy joined KPMG Corporate Finance in 1998.
In addition to working in the Dow Schofield Watts corporate finance business, Andy now has responsibility for PHD Industrial Holdings - working with current investments and looking for investment opportunities in SMEs. Andy is also a member of the DSW Ventures Investment Committee and sits on our board in an observational and strategic advisory capacity.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Founding Partner
His previous role was as investment director with the North West Fund for Digital & Creative, which he oversaw from launch to full investment. The Fund was one of the most active venture capital investors in the UK technology and media sector. It made over 40 investments, including digital gaming developer Playdemic, ticketing platform Fatsoma, mobile market researchers Reality Mine, and the online music platform Sentric Music.
David has over 25 years' experience advising and investing in software, IT services and media companies. He has worked in venture capital, stockbroking and corporate finance companies including 3i and KPMG, supporting companies from early stage funding through to IPO or sale.
David qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and has a BSc in Managerial and Administrative Studies from Aston University.
In his spare time, David is a keen runner, cyclist and occasional sailor.
david@dsw.vc
Former head of the North-West Fund for Digital and Creative
Doug has joined DSW from a career in industry. After qualifying as a management accountant in the steel industry, Doug moved to Accenture; he subsequently pursued a career with early stage businesses in the technology and life science sectors. He has experience on the transaction side having managed both fundraisings and M&A. In addition, he has considerable operational experience gained as a hands-on CFO in numerous companies and is well versed in the challenges businesses face as they progress from start-up through to revenue generation. Doug also brings public markets experience having worked with several AIM businesses, latterly as CFO of University of Manchester spinout, SkinBioTherapeutics plc, which he led through an IPO in 2017.
Outside of work, Doug is a keen cyclist and can be found most weekends at a Peak District café enjoying coffee and flapjack.
Edward joined the DSW Ventures team in July 2023 for his year in industry as part of his undergraduate sandwich course from Loughborough University, where he studies Economics and Management.
He previously interned with RSM and GP Bullhound, where he gained experience in the corporate finance industry. At GP Bullhound, he spent time with some of the region's leading technology entrepreneurs, which emphasized the importance of early-stage venture funding.
Outside of work, Edward is an avid amateur sportsman who plays cricket, golf, and football on a regular basis. He also joined the University rowing club at Loughborough.
Emma joined DSW Ventures in January 2022 from KPMG's Manchester office.
Emma is ACA qualified and gained almost four years' experience at KPMG working with a wide variety of clients including both SME and listed businesses across the North West. Prior to this, she started her career in programmatic media trading, working with both start-ups and scale-ups to large household brands.
Emma has a first-class degree in Chemistry from the University of Durham and her experience has given her a passion for tech and software businesses with high growth potential.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys hiking, travelling and is the founder and captain of a tag rugby team.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts
- Partner and DSW Group Chief Executive
James is the co-author of Private Equity: Law and Practice and specialises in deal structuring.
James is a past "Dealmaker of the Year" winner at the Insider Deal Awards.
James is also a non-executive director of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
In his spare time, James enjoys training and completes triathlons.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Founding Partner
Keith joined the DSW Corporate Finance team in February 2012 from KPMG's Preston office. He is a graduate in Mathematics and Economics from the London School of Economics and a qualified Chartered Accountant. Prior to joining KPMG, Keith spent 10 years working as a fintech software engineer based in the City of London.
Keith is an experienced mid-market corporate finance adviser, with expertise in buy side and sell side trade deals, as well as private equity, venture capital and debt. His background as a technologist has provided a deep knowledge and understanding of software and technology which Keith has leveraged in the provision of specialist advisory in the software, IT services and telecoms sectors.
He has been involved in DSW Ventures since the network's first investment in March 2018 and co-founded the business as a separate entity within the DSW Group in October 2019.
Keith spends most of his spare time at the stables with his wife and daughters. He also plays the guitar and is a keen cook.
Job Titles:
- Angel Investor and Former Chairman of Nasstar Plc and Broadstone Engage
Job Titles:
- Technology Entrepreneur and Investor, Former COO of Thinkproject UK
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer, DSW Group
- Chief Financial Officer, DSW Group / Former Director at Deloitte and Head of Corporate Development for the DSW Group / Marketing & Business Support
Nicole joined Dow Schofield Watts 2019 and is playing a key role in driving the growth of the business.
She previously spent 15 years with Deloitte in Manchester. As a Director, she was responsible for leading the audits of some of the region's largest and most complex international businesses, more recently focusing on listed businesses. She also played a significant role in growing the North West practice in terms of recruitment, developing top talent and growing the local client base.
Nicole combines technical knowledge with commercial acumen and strong reporting skills. She has considerable experience of providing transaction and advisory services including working capital reports, due diligence and debt raising and in helping firms to design and improve their finance functions.
Job Titles:
- Regulatory Compliance Consultant
Richard has over 30 years' experience in investment banking, financial services and compliance. He spent the early part of his career with BDO in London, then worked with Brewin Dolphin's corporate finance team in Manchester for over a decade before joining the FCA, where he focused on the supervision of overseas investment banks. Most recently he was COO of the London-based boutique advisory firm Strand Hanson.
Richard has strong analytical and problem-solving skills and a track record for achieving strategic objectives within a highly regulated environment.
He joined Dow Schofield Watts in 2019 to support the nationwide growth of the Dow Schofield Watts group and the expansion of its fund management arm, PHD Equity Partners. He has since moved on from the group but is retained by DSW Ventures in a regulatory advisory capacity.