Chris Morris Email & Phone Number

Boutique and interim strategic & capital advisory services to growing businesses, focused on strategic planning, M&A, capital raising, exit planning and optimised board reporting

LDC is a leading UK mid market private equity investor. With a 40 year heritage, it focusses on significant equity investments of £10-50m, backing ambitious management teams in growing businesses.- Hired after 6 month secondment and promoted to Investment Director after 2 years. Gained experience across the investment lifecycle, including leading investments, portfolio board directorships, value creation, follow on acquisitions and exits- Established member of award-winning team of 7 with successful track record. Focus on technology and services investments and member of the national ICT sector group.- Integral role in 6 investments, 3 board directorships, 5 follow-on acquisitions and 2 exits which both returned >4x money multiple and >70% IRR

Red Helix is a leading network performance and cyber solutions provider. With a 40 year heritage, it provides industry specific managed services and solutions to clients ranging from mid-market organisations to major blue chip enterprises.Lead role in initial investment to fund management buyout, and served as board director, with input to initiatives including:- Development of a strategic plan and reporting framework to evolve the business from a traditional network performance VAR to a full service Network & Cyber Managed Services provider- Rebranding of the business- Additional key senior management hires to support future growth and enable planned succession- Investment into sales, marketing and reporting capability

FSP is a digital transformation agency, which provides large enterprises and public sector bodies with strategic advice and delivery of major technology & cyber solutions.Full involvement throughout primary investment period, including leading LDC’s investment to back the founders and existing management team, serving as non-executive board director and exit. During this time, FSP doubled revenue, profitability and headcount, and materially increased its valuation multiple, whilst continuing to be recognised for a world class culture and winning Megabuyte’s Rising Star Award. This included:- Working closely with the management team to design a strategic framework to accelerate growth- Enhancements to business data and strategic reporting- Growth of all core services and expansion into new service lines, including the opening of a Cyber practice and material growth of its Data &AI capability- Introduction, appraisal, diligence and integration planning of Cyber consultancy Savanti, FSP’s first acquisition- Planning, preparation and execution of a high returning exit via secondary PE investment, plus minority reinvestment by LDC.

Babble provides unified comms, CCaaS, broader connectivity and IT services to UK and European SMEs. Achievements as board director included integral roles in:- Design and execution of a successful buy & build strategy, working closely with management on the appraisal, execution and integration of 4 acquisitions- Operational and strategic adaptation to Covid- Delivery of a significant refinancing to support the acquisition strategy plus enhance exit options and speed of execution- Planning, preparation and execution of exit via secondary PE buyout: achieving Enterprise Value of £90m (vs <£5m at the time of LDC’s initial investment).

London, United Kingdom

Valued member of leading UK leveraged finance franchise, providing debt and high yield bonds to fund private equity buyouts, recapitalisations and acquisitions plus complex corporate financings.Focused on mid-market financings (£100m - £500m EV), I was integrally involved in 15 transactions for a range of well known PE houses including 3i, Advent International, TDR Capital, Phoenix Private Equity, Silverfleet and ICG, plus corporates including Daisy and Thomas Cook.

London, United Kingdom

Transacting (including appraisal, structuring, negotiation and internal credit committee presentation), portfolio management and exit of equity stakes taken as part of financial restructurings (typically debt-for-equity swaps) of UK and European businesses. Remit to maximise and preserve value recovery across the capital structure whilst enabling solvent outcomes.Gained foundational deal and board experience, completed c. 15 transactions and exits via business sale or portfolio disposal. Lead equity role in a business delisting via pre-pack, which won Restructuring of the Year at the Institute for Turnaround Awards plus returned c. 3x the original write-off on exit.

London, Edinburgh

Lloyds / HBOS Corporate Markets Graduate Programme. 2 year rotation scheme included roles within portfolio management, credit sanctioning, leveraged debt restructuring and private equity, whilst completing Chartered Institute of Bankers professional qualification

Originating and executing private equity investments plus portfolio work. Selected and put forward for 6 month secondment which ultimately became a permanent role

London

Newly formed membership organisation for established entrepreneurs - grew to c. £200k t/o in 3 years.Part time, pro-bono role as member of executive team. Role includes strategic input, financial management and overseeing statutory reporting.

London, United Kingdom

Secondment role securing and completing private equity investments of £2m-£100m

Executive Certificate Programme, Ai: Implications For Business Strategy

Ba (Hons), History

Education record