Investment Team

Nicholas is a co-founder and partner of Lionhead Growth. Nicholas holds responsibilities across origination, execution and monitoring of new investment opportunities as well as fundraising. Nicholas works closely with portfolio companies to help them maximize their shareholder and stakeholder value.

Prior to co-founding Lionhead Growth, Nicholas has been involved in the founding and building of several consumer businesses. He previously worked for Unilever, within the strategy and market development teams. Before moving to Unilever, Nicholas worked as a management consultant with Bain and Co, advising on several private and public businesses predominantly within the consumer goods space.

Nicholas holds degrees from both the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Oxford.

Christopher is a co-founder and partner of Lionhead Growth. Christopher holds responsibilities across origination, execution and monitoring of new investment opportunities. In addition to deal management and supervision, Christopher works closely with portfolio companies to help them maximize their shareholder and stakeholder value.

Prior to co-founding Lionhead Growth, Christopher was an associate director at ACP Partners, a London based private equity and special situation investment firm, leading consumer retail transactions in the US and EU.  Christopher was formally an investment banking professional, having worked as an associate in the consumer retail team for Jefferies Investment Bank in London and at PMB Capital, a merchant banking firm dedicated to the provision of advice and capital for business owners. Prior to pursuing an MBA, Christopher was a corporate finance executive at Bridge Capital in Johannesburg, a multidisciplinary M&A and corporate finance house, advising on a number of private and public transactions across the African continent.

Christopher holds a BCom Financial Accounting and a PG Dip Enterprise Management from the University of Cape Town, as well as a MBA from Drexel University’s Lebow College of Business, Philadelphia. 

Edward is a co-founder of Lionhead Growth and a partner at the firm, as well as heading the firm’s value creation initiatives. Edward is responsible for originating new investment opportunities, conducting operational diligence and developing and implementing value creation plans in partnership with our investee companies.

Prior to co-founding Lionhead Growth, Edward was a Vice President at Alexander Proudfoot, a leading global management consulting company. Based in New York, he worked across several industries including financial services, manufacturing and natural resources with a particular focus in growth, operational effectiveness and capital efficiency. Edward was formerly a strategy consultant at IMES Consulting Group (Dubai, U.A.E) where he worked across the consumer goods sector focused on market research, product expansion and strategic planning.

Edward holds a BSc Organisational Psychology from the University of Cape Town, a PG Dip Enterprise Management from UCT Graduate School of Business and a PG Dip (Valuations and Financial Analysis) from Columbia Business School.

David is a co-founder of Lionhead Growth and a partner in the firm. David is responsible for generating new investment opportunities, conducting diligence, structuring transactions, maintaining relationships with debt and equity investors and working with our partner companies to execute strategic initiatives.

Before co-founding Lionhead Growth, David was Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Stellar Capital Partners, a leading listed investment firm where he was responsible for identifying investment opportunities and advising companies in the middle market across Africa. Previously, he was a Director at AfrAsia Corporate Finance, the investment banking arm of an African focused corporate bank, where he ran a high yield private credit investment fund and advised on numerous M&A and capital raising transactions. Earlier in his career David practised corporate and insolvency law at DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr.

David holds a B.BusSci, LLB, and PG Dip Tax from the University of Cape Town and is an admitted attorney.

Chris co-founded Lionhead Growth and is a partner at the firm. Chris is responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities, conducting financial and market due diligence, structuring transactions, fundraising activities and working with our partner companies.

Prior to co-founding Lionhead Growth, Chris was a Principal at Stellar Capital Partners, where he co-led the credit investment team focussed principally on senior and mezzanine debt to middle market companies in the consumer goods sectors including healthcare, food, household products and durables. Before joining Stellar, Chris was a Vice President at Barclays Africa where he focused on principal equity investments in Africa, executing transactions in the banking, insurance and fintech sectors. Before joining Barclays, Chris worked as an investment associate at the Nodus Group, a generalist private equity firm focussed on the South African middle market.

Chris holds a B.BusSci (Hons) from the University of Cape Town and is a registered CA(SA) and CFA Charterholder.

Paul is a co-founder of Lionhead Growth and a partner in the firm. Paul has over a decade of experience in building and investing in middle-market companies across Africa and is responsible for originating new investment opportunities, conducting operational diligence, building and maintaining investor relations and implementing value creation plans in partnership with our investee companies.

Prior to co-founding Lionhead Growth, Paul founded Fortis Logistique, a leading FMCG logistics business in West Africa. Paul has also founded or actively invested in a number of businesses across the consumer, property and resources industries in Africa, including London-listed mining exploration company Cora Gold (AIM: CORA), where he currently serves as a non-executive director.

Paul holds a B.Comm from the Northeastern University in Accounting and Finance.

Barak is an analyst at Lionhead Growth, providing an active role across the firm’s core strategies including private equity, real estate and mining. Barak is responsible for supporting the successful execution of the firm’s strategies through research, financial analysis and engagement with portfolio companies.

Prior to joining Lionhead, Barak held operational and financial roles at a leading Agritech start-up, Credit Suisse’s Global Markets division in London, Barclays Africa Rest of Africa team, and Deloitte Financial Services.

Barak holds a B Com & PGDA from University of Cape Town, and is a qualified chartered accountant - CA (SA), FRM Charterholder