Anthony Esse, Chief Executive

Anthony Esse has worked in the investment management profession for nineteen years and held directorships with Hermes, Newton (Mellon Group) and GT Management Plc. At Hermes he built up a third party business designing and offering products to global pension funds that leveraged from the core competencies that the company held. The operating profits grew from zero to £17m. He was involved in the acquisition of MEPC plc — the joint venture between Hermes and GE Capital.

More recently Mr Esse set up The Darwin Group, a strategic consulting boutique which provided investors with strategic research into how major quoted companies competed and created share holder value and helped smaller quoted companies raise long-term capital directly from internally managed pension funds.

Mr Esse holds the Investment Management Certificate and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Email Anthony Esse at Darwin here>>
Back to top^^

Victoria Brannen, Chief Investment Officer

Victoria has over ten years' experience working with global brands in the automotive and financial services sector (Ford, Nissan and Toyota) at a senior level. As Head of Marketing - Europe for Toyota Financial Services her role was strategic and project management focused, with responsibility for European portfolio development & expansion and strategic initiatives. Business growth during this period was £269 million of business revenue

More recently Victoria has worked within the hotel & leisure industry sectors in the capacity of consultant, delivering sales and marketing strategies, establishing strategic business relationships with key industry players and implementing consumer led product development initiatives for two major leisure acquisitions backed by prominent UK Property Investment Management Funds. Other clients include the global hotel chain Millennium & Copthorne.

Victoria studied at the Ashridge Executive Management College in Hertfordshire and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

Email Victoria Brannen at Darwin here>>
Back to top^^

James Penney, Non-Executive Chairman

James is the owner and Managing Director of Darwin Consulting, a strategy consulting firm he co-founded in 1997. Darwin provides strategic advice to directors and investors in a range of industries, including financial services, private equity and media.

More recently Mr Penney helped set up The Darwin Group, a business which provided investors with strategic research into how major quoted companies competed and created share holder value and helped smaller quoted companies raise long-term capital directly from internally managed pension funds.

Prior to founding Darwin, Mr Penney had an academic career, which included undergraduate and postgraduate research at Trinity College, Cambridge, followed by six years as Principal Lecturer at Westminster College, Oxford. After Oxford, Mr Penney was a Sloan Fellow at London Business School from which he has an MSc in Management Studies.

Email James Penney at Darwin here>>
Back to top^^

David Lynn, Non-Executive Director

David was Chief Operating Officer at Barclays Bank PLC having started at the Bank in 1976. He has a wealth of experience in finance , risk management , tax and change management.

In 2006 David left Barclays and set up his own consulting group where he advised Essex County Council on a major finance transformation programme. Most recently David established all the regulatory and financial/ performance reporting procedures for Cattles PLC.

Email David Lynn at Darwin here>>
Back to top^

Nigel Triptree, Non-Executive Director

Nigel Triptree has been a member of The London Stock exchange since 1970 when he joined Burge and Co. He has been advising and managing both Institutional and Private Clients with Abbey Unit Trust Managers, Brewin Dolphin and Laing and Cruickshank which was bought by UBS in May 2004. Since October 2008 Nigel has been an adviser to Vestra Wealth LLP.

Email Nigel Triptree at Darwin here>>
Back to top^