27 June 2024
Board of Schroder British Opportunities Trust plc
Board Changes
The Board of Schroder British Opportunities Trust plc (the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Justin Ward and Jemma Bruton as independent non-executive directors of the Company, with effect from 1 July 2024. Neil England has informed the Board that he intends to retire from his position as non-executive director and Chairman of the Company and Justin will succeed Neil as Chairman following the AGM on 18 September 2024. Jemma and Justin will initially join all Board Committees.
Justin Ward
Justin is a Chartered Accountant with considerable investment experience and is a private equity specialist. He led and managed growth equity and private equity buyout transactions at CVC Capital Partners and as a partner at Hermes Private Equity and Bridgepoint Development Capital. He is an active angel investor and has served on the board of a number of private companies as a non-executive director.
Justin is currently a non-executive director and Chairman of the Investment Committee at The Income & Growth VCT plc and a non-executive director and Chairman of the Audit Committee at Hargreave Hale AIM VCT plc.
Jemma Bruton
Jemma, an economics graduate at Cambridge and an INSEAD MBA, held a number of senior positions at Goldman Sachs, latterly as Executive Director, Leveraged Finance. She is currently co-managing partner at Hambro Perks Advisory LLP, and leads their activities on origination, execution and portfolio management. She has extensive experience in venture investing and financing and works closely with a number of high growth private companies.
Jemma is an active member of several groups aiming to increase diversity in the investment industry.
Neil England, Chairman of the Company, said:
"I am delighted to welcome Justin and Jemma to Schroder British Opportunities. They both bring new skills and knowledge to the Board, and their experience of fast-growing private equity backed businesses is particularly relevant. This completes our Board recruitment and no further changes are planned.
There are no other details to be disclosed, in respect of Justin Ward and Jemma Bruton under Listing Rule 9.6.13R.
Enquiries:
Katherine Fyfe
Schroder Investment Management Limited
Tel: 020 7658 6000