Simon Clark takes over BVCA Chairmanship
The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is pleased to announce that Simon Clark has taken over as Chairman as of 2 April 2013.
Mr Clark is Managing Partner at Fidelity Growth Partners Europe. Mr Clark said:
"I am genuinely delighted to take on the Chairmanship of the BVCA because I firmly believe private equity and venture capital have a huge contribution to make in driving the British economy forward.
During my year in the role I aim to focus on three core areas. Firstly, attracting capital to our industry from global investors by making a robust case for the asset class; secondly, ensuring we remain actively and constructively engaged in the European regulatory debate, building alliances and partnerships with fellow institutions; and thirdly, demonstrating how private equity and venture capital skills can be applied to solve social problems.
Our industry has a tremendous opportunity to make a real difference to both the economy and society at large. We need to tell that story and I look forward to helping the BVCA lead the way."
Mark Florman, Chief Executive of the BVCA, said:
"Simon has an unwavering belief in the positive contribution private equity and venture capital can make to business and society. He has been involved with the BVCA for many years and I am delighted he is taking on the role of chairman at a time when the industry is so well-placed to demonstrate its worth to the economy. I look forward to continuing our work together.
I also wish to thank our out-going chairman, Robert Easton, for all his hard work over the past 12 months. His admirable dedication to finding solutions to the UK's growth problems found a fitting testament in The Growth Initiative, a BVCA publication which provided a framework for encouraging innovation and investment."
Mr Clark succeeds Robert Easton, a Managing Director and Co-Head of Carlyle Europe Technology Partners. Tim Farazmand, a Managing Director, at LDC has been appointed vice-chairman and will take over as chairman in April 2014.
Notes to editor
- Simon Clark is Managing Partner at Fidelity Growth Partners Europe where he focuses on investments in software, healthcare IT and data services. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Asset Control, Neverfail, and Qumas and is a board observer at GoodData. Prior to joining Fidelity in 1999, Simon was Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, International of TheStreet.com, (NASDAQ: TSCM) a leading financial news website. In this role he managed two rounds of venture fundraising, a strategic investment and the IPO process and was responsible for the company's IT infrastructure and its international operations. He spent over seven years at Reuters in various finance, IT and general management positions and, in 1995, established and ran Reuters.com, the company's first website. He also built Alert.Net, an online information service for journalists and aid workers in conflict zones. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse and has previously served as Chairman of the BVCA's Venture Capital Committee. Simon holds an MA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Wadham College, Oxford
- The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 500 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and advisors.