Former Lloyds Banking Group head of equity investments Fiona Gibson has joined BGF (Business Growth Fund) as a portfolio specialist to support its growing portfolio across the South West.
At Lloyds, Fiona, pictured, was responsible for the bank’s portfolio of more than 250 legacy equity assets. 
She delivered a number of significant exits including the £400m sale of Doncaster-based housebuilder social housing provider Keepmoat to Sun Capital and TDR Capital and the disposal of upmarket housebuilder Cala Homes to a joint venture between Legal & General and Patron Capital Partners for £210m.
Fiona also worked at venture capital group 3i and HBoS Integrated Finance before moving to the equity investments team at Lloyds Banking Group following the merger of HBoS and Lloyds.
A qualified chartered accountant, having begun her career at Ernst & Young, she has 15 years’ private equity experience, predominately managing minority equity investments across a range of sectors.
She is based in BGF’s Bristol and Reading offices, where she joins a team of nine investors covering the South West who, in addition to identifying investment opportunities, provide support to the companies they back.
The appointment follows a record year for BGF. The firm provided £376m in funding to UK smaller and mid-sized companies in 2016, up from £248m the previous year. Some 59 deals were transacted in 2016, compared to 31 in 2015.
BGF South regional director Paul Oldham said the 59 deals included new investments, follow-on funding transactions and exits, which put BGF among the top 10 most active investors in the world
To support the growing portfolio, we’re expanding the team with bright, motivated professionals, who understand and value BGF’s long-term model of investing and are eager to provide support to growing companies,” he said.
“With a wealth of investment and portfolio experience, Fiona is a fantastic addition to the team and we’re delighted to have her on board.”
Fiona added: “As a minority investor in the businesses it backs, BGF’s model is to provide funding, support and access to a substantial network, without taking control. Its growing portfolio of exciting businesses speaks to the attractiveness of this route for entrepreneurs. I’m looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to BGF, and playing an active role in the team.”
BGF is an independent company with capital of up to £2.5bn and is backed by five of the UK’s main banking groups – Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, RBS and Standard Chartered.
