Jeremy French

Jeremy is a Chartered Management Accountant with more than 30 years’ experience, much of it spent alongside owners and investors at the moments that shape a business: raising money, changing who owns it, growing it and selling it.

His first experience of private equity came at a food manufacturer, where he led an LDC-backed management buyout. He stayed on in the management team that grew the business to a successful exit, delivering a 3x return for the investor.

He has since worked with founder-owned and investor-backed businesses including Prezola, a wedding gift list company that exited successfully in 2021, and Equilaw, a conveyancing firm specialising in equity release. Both were backed by BGF. As a part-time CFO, he works with smaller businesses in sectors from defence and IT support to retail and deep technology. He also co-founded an energy procurement company, so he knows the owner’s side of the table.

Owners tend to bring Jeremy in when something significant is on the horizon: raising investment, planning an exit or bringing key managers into the ownership. When the numbers aren’t clear or timely enough to run the business, he improves management information and finance processes and mentors the in-house team.

Many smaller businesses run with little cash headroom, and Jeremy is adept at managing that pressure. He eases the immediate strain through working capital management and short-term funding and plans longer-term restructuring where needed. Outside work, he enjoys scuba diving and playing the guitar, thankfully not at the same time.