Success adds up for accountant

Mar 12 2008 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

FUND management firm NEL Fund Managers Ltd (NEL) has welcomed a new employee to its team to help bring through the region’s next generation of commercial success stories.

Ian O’Brien, from Wallsend, has taken up a position as financial analyst with NEL.

Having studied accounting and financial analysis and graduated from Newcastle University in 2001, Ian worked for the NHS in an auditing trainee role whilst working towards an accountancy qualification.

This was achieved in 2003 and following this, Ian joined Bentley-Jennison, working as assistant manager for the North East in a risk management capacity. The father-of-one then made a move to RMT in Gosforth carrying out a similar role before moving to NEL.

He said: “It’s very important to provide management teams with the investment support they need to enable them to grow their businesses. This ultimately has an impact on the North East’s future economic well-being. NEL has a very strong track record and reputation within the regional business community for supporting companies with the investment needed to grow their business. It’s an exciting time to be joining the organisation.”   

NEL investment director David Wilson, said: “Ian’s knowledge and enthusiasm for securing viable investment opportunities will be a key element in our investment team and help to ensure we can invest in companies that strive to become bigger and better.

“Over the last decade, NEL investments have helped many of the region’s well-known companies achieve and exceed their commercial objectives, and we are confident that Ian will help add new names to the list of successful investee companies.”

NEL Fund Managers was established in 1988 and has more than £70m under management. Active throughout the North East, NEL has 140 businesses on its portfolio and can lend and invest up to £500,000 of risk capital at any one time.