For release 07.00, 16 October 2008
Braveheart Investment Group plc
('Braveheart' or the 'Group')
Braveheart appoints CFO
Braveheart (AIM: BRH), the technology commercialisation and investment management company, today announces the appointment of Colin Grant as the Group's Chief Financial Officer. Colin has joined the Board with effect from 15 October 2008 and will, in addition, take on the role of Company Secretary from Carolyn Smith, the Group's Chief Investment Officer.
Colin joins Braveheart from Digital Bridges Ltd, a leading global provider of mobile entertainment software applications to the mobile telecommunications industry. At Digital Bridges Colin was Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, and before that Chief Operating Officer. Prior to his role at Digital Bridges, Colin worked as Finance Director at Vision Group plc, an Edinburgh University spin-out which successfully pioneered CMOS image sensors and which listed on the LSE in 1995.
Commenting on the appointment, Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive of Braveheart said, 'I am delighted to announce Colin's appointment. His experience of public markets and venture backed technology companies means that he is ideally suited for the CFO role. Carolyn Smith, our CIO, and I welcome him as the third executive director of the Group. With our four non-executive directors we have an ideal balance of skills on the Board and we look forward to building the business as we have outlined previously'.
Additional Disclosures
In the previous five years Colin Grant has been a director of the following companies and remains a director:
None
In the previous five years Colin Grant has been a director of the following companies, in relation to which he is no longer a director:
Digital Bridges Limited
Wireless Games Limited
Ditto Studios Limited
Save for the information disclosed above, there are no further matters which are required to be disclosed with regard to this appointment under paragraph 2 (g) of the AIM Rules.
For further information please visit www.braveheart-ventures.co.uk or contact:
Braveheart Investment Group |
Tavistock Communications (for Braveheart) |
Geoffrey Thomson, Chief Executive |
Simon Hudson / James Midmer |
Tel: 01738 587555 |
Tel: 020 7920 3150 |
gthomson@braveheart-ventures.co.uk |
jmidmer@tavistock.co.uk |
Notes to Editors
Braveheart Investment Group is a technology commercialisation and investment management company based in Perth, Scotland. Since its formation in 1997 it has made the transition from start-up angel syndicate to fully listed company. Braveheart's shares listed on AIM in March 2007.
Investments are made in young, emerging, unlisted companies where there is potential for significant growth through successful commercialisation of IP and Braveheart enjoys close relationships with several universities to identify emerging technologies. Investments are predominantly technology-focused; however the Group also maintains limited exposure to more traditional businesses.
Braveheart's diverse portfolio currently comprises over 30 companies and it has completed over 70 deals in its ten year history, including 6 IPOs, 3 trade sales and 8 write-offs and has an exit IRR of 33%.
At the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year Awards (Scotland) Braveheart CEO Geoffrey Thomson was given a special award recognising his contribution and support of emerging technology businesses in Scotland over the past decade.