WHIreland Regulatory News (WHI)

17 Nov 2008 07:00



WHI

WH Ireland Group plc ("WH Ireland")

Hires Senior Corporate Financier in South West

WH Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of John Nigel Wakefield as a Regional Director. John (aged 54) is to establish a new regional corporate finance practice for WH Ireland, based in Bristol and serving the South West region.

John will join WH Ireland from Blue Oar Securities ("Blue Oar"), where he led the firm's Bristol based corporate finance business. John was a founder director of Rowan Dartington, which was formed by a management buyout in 1992, where he was Head of Corporate Finance until its acquisition in 2006 by Blue Oar. 

John brings to WH Ireland well over twenty years' experience with smaller to mid-cap quoted companies, including involvement in over 50 flotations on the Official List, the USM (Unlisted Securities Market) and its successor AIM (Alternative Investment Market) as well as numerous placings, takeovers and public offerings. He was for four years a member of the London Stock Exchange's AIM Advisory Committee.

John is passionate about supporting and mentoring small businesses in his capacity as Chairman of SWAIN (South West Angel Investor Network). SWAIN operates through the seven counties of the South West bringing high net worth individuals into contact with growth companies seeking capital and guidance from entrepreneurs with relevant experience. Over the last four years SWAIN has arranged 62 deals and sourced over £6m equity capital and over £20m debt.

John graduated in Law from Oxford University in 1976 and subsequently qualified as a solicitor with City Law firm, Cameron McKenna, before entering stockbroking in 1985 with Williams de Broë Plc.

Commenting on his move, John Wakefield said "I'm very pleased to be joining WH Ireland which has a well established commitment to the regions as well as providing stockbroking and related advice to ambitious growth companies from London and major financial centres throughout the country."

Commenting on the development WH Ireland's Chief Executive, Richard Ford said, "We are delighted that John has chosen to join WH Ireland. He brings with him a wealth of expertise and contacts, both of which are vital for success within the financial services industry.

"WH Ireland remains committed to developing its securities business through investment in top talent. Our strength is in assisting smaller growth companies, in raising capital for them and ensuring an active aftermarket in the shares of our corporate clients. Our corporate finance operations are already well established in London, Manchester and our other regional offices and the launch of a business in Bristol will build on our existing operations in the West Country and enable the group to broaden its offering in this important regional marketplace."

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