BVCA appoints Kerry Baldwin as new Vice-Chair

We are delighted to announce that IQ Capital Managing Partner Kerry Baldwin has been appointed as Vice-Chair of the British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association for the coming year.

The BVCA has a vital role as the trade body for the UK private equity and venture capital sector.

Kerry takes on her new role at a moment of unprecedented challenges in the field of public health and the combatting of the Covid-19 virus, as well as its effects on the UK and global economy. The BVCA advocates the central role that private equity and venture capital can play in dealing with these challenges, both in the technical advances being achieved by many PE- and VC-backed businesses, and in the overall contribution of PE and VC to regrowing the economy in years to come. BVCA member businesses employ nearly 850,000 people in over 2,500 businesses across the UK.

Kerry takes on her new appointment at the same time that the BVCA appoints a new Chair, Neil MacDougall of Silverfleet. Both Neil and Kerry will be focusing on supporting the government with a number of initiatives, including short-term initiatives to support the development of PE- and VC-backed businesses and the retention of the staff who work in them.

Kerry commented:

“With the BVCA, we are offering assistance to the government on the practical steps needed to preserve individuals’ livelihoods and keep the economy going. I am proud to be able to contribute to the solutions from our government that address the most pressing problems in the Covid-19 crisis, and we are hoping to be able to help as many people and businesses as possible. We will help to preserve jobs and businesses and also work with the government on their broader agenda.”

Kerry has been in Venture for over 20 years. She co-founded IQ Capital and is a Managing Partner in the firm, serving on the boards of 7 of its investee companies and active widely across the portfolio. Aside from her personal experience of the sector, she is known as a contributor to best practice in Venture Capital, including carrying out an in-depth study on investment committee best practice and decision making. She regularly appears on industry panels and is a Fellow in Entrepreneurship at the University of Cambridge (Judge Business School).