ALEXANDER SQUARE PARTNERS - Key Persons
Chris was invited to help establish Alexander Square Partners as a Family Office in 2018, focussing on developing a fund and direct investment programme in partnership with a range of private equity and direct investors. He continues to help identify, evaluate and execute transactions for the office.
Chris qualified as a chartered accountant with Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte (now PwC) in 1990, then spent two years in the group finance department of Dixons Group. He joined Electra Partners (now Epiris) in 1996, initially on secondment from the corporate finance and advisory department of Ernst & Young. He spent 11 years at Electra, executing mid-market European buyouts.
Chris left in 2007 to set up Cornerstone Private Equity LLP, a Private Equity Fund of funds business, focused on the European mid-market buyout market. Cornerstone gives High Net Worth Individuals and Family Office investors access to a curated portfolio of funds where access is usually reserved for institutional investors.
In his spare time Chris is a keen golfer, an avid follower of a variety of sports and a Harlequins season ticket holder. His daughter is now at University but his three under-trained dogs keep him busy.
Job Titles:
- Legal Counsel
- Non - Executive Director
David has been the Company's legal adviser since its inception and he joined the Board as a non-executive director in February 2023.
After graduating from Cambridge, David spent over 30 years as a corporate lawyer at international law firm Clifford Chance, latterly as Head of Private Equity in London. He was previously Head of Corporate in London, a member of the Worldwide Board and a member of the global Audit Committee. His clients included some of Europe's leading private equity houses and a number of multinational corporations. He retired from Clifford Chance in 2017 to set up his own legal business, continuing to advise clients on M&A and corporate matters.
Away from work David's passion is road cycling and he has represented Great Britain in two World Championships. He is also a keen golfer and skier, where his enthusiasm exceeds his ability.
David established the family office in 2018. He chairs the investment and finance committees, and shares the responsibility for identifying new private equity opportunities. He also manages the quoted portfolio. He is a member of the philanthropic committee for The Symondson Foundation, the charitable fund that is beneficiary of a percentage of annual profits of Alexander Square Partners.
After qualifying as an accountant with KPMG, David embarked on what was to become a 34 year career in Private Equity working for Electra Partners (now, Epiris). Their major client was the quoted investment trust, Electra Private Equity PLC.
During his time at Electra, David led a number of successful buyout and development capital investments across a diversified range of industries including financial services, healthcare, industrial, leisure and real estate. Having studied agriculture at university and being a farmer himself, David is best known for his investments in agriculture - made at a time when this sector was out of favour as an investment class - most notably in BOCM Pauls and Antelliq, which was sold to Merck in a £3bn transaction. Other significant investments across sectors include Premium Credit and NewDay (both financial services), Aspen Healthcare (private hospitals), Capital Safety Group (workplace safety, now part of 3M), and London Metric (real estate).
Outside of work, David loves activities involving the great outdoors, including country sports, cycling, and skiing. He takes equal pleasure in art galleries and sports grounds, home and abroad.
Job Titles:
- Philanthropy Committee Member
Fiona has been integral in the establishment of The Symondson Foundation, from its early conception to defining its purpose. As a member of the committee, she brings her wealth of experience in the education, charitable, and arts sectors to bear on supporting the Foundation's grantees, and strategically realising its vision.
Fiona earned a degree in Education and Environmental studies whilst raising her young family. This led to numerous school governorships in London and Gloucestershire, in the private and public sector. As a professional ceramicist, she firmly believes in the power of the arts as a force for individual empowerment and social change. She has been involved in and has led numerous initiatives in the charitable sector designed to increase access to the arts and to give vulnerable people a safe space to express themselves, including working as a trustee and supporting workshops at Brewery Arts Centre in Cirencester, and helping run residential retreats for vulnerable women.
When she is not at her wheel in her studio, Fiona loves losing herself in a good book or on long dog walks in the valleys of the Cotswolds.
Helen joined the board as Financial Director and became a member of the Investment Committee in 2021, having supported Alexander Square Partners with its accounting for a couple of years.
After graduating from Cambridge, Helen qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte (now PwC) in 1994. She spent 10 years with the Corporate Finance team of Apax Partners - latterly as a Director - advising mid-sized companies on raising private equity. Helen also advised on a number of public to private transactions as well as public and private company M&A advisory mandates. She left the firm (now GCA Altium) in 2004 to focus on raising her growing family.
In 2009 Helen established a business providing accountancy support services to London-based companies, many of which operate within the financial services sector. She was a Partner of Next Wave Partners - a client - until 2019, whilst continuing to work as a consultant to other firms, focusing on FCA regulated businesses.
In her spare time Helen rows at Tideway Scullers School in Chiswick. She is also mother to three sons and housekeeper (servant) to two cats.
From 2021, Alexander Square Partners committed to pledge a percentage of their annual profits to The Symondson Foundation. Kate joined as Head of Philanthropy that same year, defining the architecture and vision of the Foundation, connecting with a community of philanthropists, and building relationships with charities.
Kate's background is in academia, earning her PhD in English Literature at King's College London, where she also taught undergraduates. She has a sprawling career as a writer of academic, educational and cultural pieces, as well as working as a freelance communications consultant for a number of socially and community-minded organisations. Alongside her role at ASP, she runs cultural courses for adults that explore the complex histories of cultural phenomena through literature.
When she's not immersing herself in a swimming pool or a book, Kate loves diving into London's rich culture of art, theatre, cinema, and old pubs.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Rothschild & Co As an Analyst
Lucy joined Alexander Square Partners full-time in 2021 and has been an integral part of the Investment Committee since ASP's inception. As Investment Director she is responsible for reviewing potential investments and keeping track of and reporting on extant ones. She is the point of contact for prospective investees.
After graduating from Cambridge in 2010, Lucy joined Rothschild & Co as an analyst. During her 11 years there, she became Director in Global Advisory, focussing on Debt. Her client base comprised predominantly of FTSE 100 and 250 companies. Whilst there, she also chaired the Women's Network, a community of women dedicated to supporting women in the workplace and working to correct gender imbalance in the city.
Beyond work, Lucy loves to run and walk outdoors, as well as showing her very inquisitive daughter the natural world. During lockdown she discovered the joys of cooking, and takes great pleasure in cooking her way through a new recipe book.
Rhian joined the board of Alexander Square Partners as a non-executive director in September 2023.
After gaining a degree in mathematics from Bristol University, Rhian qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse (now PwC). Following three years in PwC's insolvency department Rhian enjoyed 25 years in private equity working for Electra Partners (now Epiris) investing across a range of sectors including financial services, fast moving consumer goods, industrials and leisure. Rhian worked alongside David on a number of successful transactions including Antelliq, Capital Safety and New Day.
In 2015 Rhian joined the board of Schroders Plc as a non-executive director and has chaired the Group's audit and risk committee since 2016 and is a member of the remuneration and nominations committees. Schroders is a global investment and wealth management business with over £700 billion of assets under management and invests across a broad range of private and public markets.
Away from work Rhian spends most of her time either playing or watching her children play sport. She enjoys tennis in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Sabina has been with Alexander Square Partners from the start, providing essential support for keeping the company, office, and family running smoothly. She is the central point of contact, and is crucial for coordinating the team and ensuring ASP maintains its reputation for efficiency and responsiveness.
Prior to ASP, Sabina supported David and other members of the Investment Team at Electra Partners (now Epiris) for 11 years. When David left in 2017, Sabina came with him. For many years, Sabina has been as integral to supporting the family as she is to their professional ventures.
Sabina loves dance, and dances salsa as much as she possibly can. She loves being a mum, and enjoys bike rides with her son in the countryside and at the coast.