Joanne Whitfield and Lindsey McMenamin have taken on senior leadership roles at FW Capital as the regional fund manager continues to grow its operations across England.
Whitfield has been appointed managing director in England, a newly created role that will see her lead FW Capital’s strategy and growth across the country.
Her promotion comes 16 years after she joined the organisation as its first employee in England in 2010. During that time, she has played a central role in the development of the business and will now oversee fund delivery, stakeholder engagement and new investment opportunities.
She will work alongside Rhian Elston, chief investment officer for the Development Bank of Wales Group and chief executive of FW Capital, following the retirement of Mike Owen.
Joanne said: “It is a privilege to lead FW Capital’s operations in England.
“Over the past 16 years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside an exceptional team, and I am proud of the impact we have delivered.
“I look forward to working with Rhian and Lindsey to build on that success, expand opportunities and help even more businesses access the finance they need.
“The work we do makes a tangible difference to businesses, communities and regional economies, and I’m deeply committed to supporting that growth.”
McMenamin has meanwhile been promoted to fund director after almost a decade with FW Capital.
Based in Newcastle, she brings 25 years of experience in SME fund management to the role and will lead the organisation’s investment and portfolio teams across the North East and Yorkshire.
Her remit will include supporting fund delivery and the economic impact generated by FW Capital’s investments across the two regions.
Lindsey added: “I’m looking forward to leading our North East and Yorkshire teams and helping ambitious businesses access the finance and expertise they need to grow, innovate and create high-quality jobs.
“FW Capital has a strong track record of delivering positive outcomes for stakeholders, built on an outstanding culture and a focus on customer service.
“The regional investment funds we manage play a vital role in unlocking opportunities and breaking down barriers to growth, and I’m excited to work alongside our talented teams to help even more businesses realise their ambitions.”
FW Capital is part of the Development Bank of Wales Group and currently manages a portfolio of nine funds across England.
Since 2010, it has invested more than £400 million and leveraged more than £590 million of private sector investment for almost 1,000 businesses. The wider Development Bank of Wales Group manages funds worth more than £2.6 billion.
Rhian added: “Joanne and Lindsey’s well-deserved appointments strengthen FW Capital’s leadership team as we look to the next phase of growth.
“As part of the Development Bank of Wales Group, FW Capital combines deep regional knowledge with the scale and expertise of one of the UK’s largest SME investors, helping us deliver more for our fund investors and the ambitious businesses that we support.”
