Management Team

We are specialists in forming and investing in search funds and bringing in partners who can add value during the search and acquisition process. In 1998, we established Springboard plc, a specialist fund that provided search funding to individuals seeking to complete management buy-ins or venture capital backed start-ups and focused on backing individuals who were already operating successfully in their sector. Springboard founded some attractive and profitable companies and backed management teams who were successful in raising significant amounts of capital to acquire and establish businesses. Details of some can be found in the portfolio and history. We have experience across a number of phases of business, including mentoring, small business and executive management, finance, venture capital fund-raising, and corporate M&A.

Stephen Ross - Chairman

Stephen is a co-founder of Pioneer Capital, and brings 20 years venture capital experience to the firm. He founded AIM-listed Springboard plc in 1998, to back individuals who wished to complete Management Buy-Ins or venture capital backed start-ups. Springboard was sold to Nova Capital in May 2006.

Prior to founding Springboard, Stephen was a director of 3i plc, based in Manchester, where he managed a highly successful investment team, completed a number of high profile and profitable deals, and created a number of market leading initiatives including the funding of MBI candidates. Stephen is the chairman NES, a Graphite capital backed recruitment company, and a non executive director of a number of other private companies.

Gerard Downes - Chief Executive

Gerard is a co-founder of Pioneer Capital, and has a breadth of corporate finance and venture capital experience. He joined Springboard plc as Finance Director, having advised on the flotation of the company, and completed a significant number of transactions in connection with both the plc and portfolio. Gerard left Springboard in May 2006, following the sale of the company to Nova Capital.

Gerard joined stockbrokers Peel Hunt in 1994 and in 1996 went on to establish a profitable corporate finance business for Williams de Broë in Leeds, aged 28. He has advised on, and managed, corporate transactions for a number of public companies. Gerard is a Chartered Accountant, qualifying with KPMG in 1991. He has been a non-executive director on a number of boards.