Gresham departures: where are they now?

Gresham officially announced its decision to wind down in June this year, pulling the plug on its most recent fundraising efforts, and instead turning its attention to returning cash to investors.

The announcement also coincided with confirmation that the firm's chairman, Paul Marson-Smith, had retired, even though this had previously been announced in January 2014.

The wind-down may have been officially announced in June, but the writing had been on the wall for some time. Therefore, it is unsurprising that before summer, there had already been a mass exodus from the team.

Here's an overview of where the ex-Gresham team is now:

Andy Tulphome => Greencoat Capital
Most recently, former Gresham partner Andy Tulphome was named partner and head of Greencoat Capital's private equity team, overseeing the firm's €200m ESB Novusmodus fund. Tupholme spent 12 years with Gresham.

Simon Hemley => LDC
In September it emerged that former Gresham partner Simon Hemley had joined LDC as an investment director in its Bristol office.

Hemley had been with Gresham for eight years, having joined the firm in 2006 as an investment executive. His most recent transaction while at Gresham was the sale of financial training business 7city Learning to Fitch Group. The enterprise value of the company was £90m in January 2013, compared with less than £30m at the time of the acquisition by Gresham in November 2007.

Iain Wolstenholme => Primary Capital
Also in September, former Gresham partner Iain Wolstenholme emerged as Primary Capital's newest partner. In his new role, Wolstenholme has been charged with establishing Primary's Manchester office.

Wolstenholme had been with Gresham for seven years, based in the Manchester office.

Dan Hatcher => Palatine Private Equity
Hatcher left Gresham earlier this year and it emerged in May that he had joined Palatine Private Equity as an investment manager. Hatcher was previously a partner at Gresham, where he spent seven years.

Peter Lahoud => self-employed
Lahoud left Gresham in January 2014. He is now self-employed and helps corporate clients and investors source investment opportunities. He is also a director at Starlevel, where he also sources deals for the London real estate investment company.

James Barbour-Smith => Hillcrest Ventures
Gresham's former head of portfolio management, Barbour-Smith joined Hillcrest Ventures in August this year as managing director.

Ben Tichband => Hoist Finance
Tichband, previously a manager in Gresham's portfolio team, quietly left the firm in February 2014 and has since joined Hoist Finance as a senior investment analyst.

Mark Blower => Bridges Ventures
Former partner Blower left Gresham in December 2013, and in January this year was named a director at Bridges Ventures. He spent four years with Gresham.

Julie Smallwood => Beehive Centre for Social Enterprise
Gresham investor relations manager Smallwood left in February 2014, the most significant indication that the GP was not going to raise another fund. Smallwood is now finance director at Beehive Centre for Social Enterprise. She has taken on a one-year volunteer role based in Malawi for the non-profit group.

Christian Bruning => LDC
Bruning joined LDC's Reading team in March 2014. He had been with Gresham for 16 years.

Anthony Bull => Barracuda Group
Bull joined Barracuda Group in February this year to head up its newly-created private equity division. He was previously co-head of Gresham's London team.

Mike Henebery => Chenavari Investment Managers
Henebery's departure from Gresham in early-2009 was one of the first indicators that the GP was in trouble. On leaving, the former London head said he would "be taking a break before deciding what route his career will take in the future".

Henebery clearly likes to keep ahead of the trend, as in early 2012, before the strategy became commonplace, he popped up at debt investor Palio. However, after a failed attempt to list the Palio UK Mid-Market Debt Fund, the firm was disbanded. Henebery, alongside Palio partners Jerry Wilson and Darren Gibson, joined credit-focused hedge fund Chenavari Investment Managers.

Missing in Action

Andy Marsh
The team at Gresham were unable to confirm whether or not Marsh is still working with them. However, he is not listed on the firm's website anymore. 

Paul Franks
Again, Gresham was unable to confirm whether or not Franks is still a member of the team. 

Mike O'Brien
O'Brien was reported to have left the firm in July 2013.

Gary Ward
Ward was reported to have left Gresham this year. 

Ken Lawrence
Lawrence was also reported to have left the firm.

Mitch Titley 
Titley left Gresham in July 2014.

Who's left?

With so many departures, there is now only a small team left at the firm overseeing the wind-down of the remaining portfolio.

Simon Inchley: managing director
Paul Thomas: partner
Pauline Abbie: partner
James Slipper: partner
Liam White: financial analyst
Les White: tax manager

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