The Imbiba team combines deep operational expertise with highly focused investment experience.
All of our investments are exclusively focused on the UK leisure, entertainment and lifestyle sector. We believe this combination provides a significant competitive advantage to our investee companies.
Darrel Connell, Managing Partner
Prior to joining Imbiba, Darrel was formerly a Director at Foresight Group, a market leading UK lower mid-market private equity firm with £6bn of assets under management. Darrel led the firm's consumer and leisure coverage and was a Non-Executive on the board of multiple high growth consumer businesses.
Darrel is currently a Non-Executive on the Board of Purple Dragon, Vagabond Wines, Pizza Pilgrims and Farmer J. Darrel focuses on sourcing new investment opportunities for Imbiba and transaction execution.
Email: darrel@imbiba.com
Lizzie Ryan, Partner & Head of Investment
Lizzie has over 15 years’ experience working in M&A and private equity. Prior to joining Imbiba, Lizzie worked at Foresight Group as a Senior Investment Manager focusing on consumer & leisure investments, where she sat on a number of portfolio company boards as a non-executive director, and at Synova Capital and Deloitte LLP where she focused on mid-market transactions.
Lizzie is currently a Non-Executive on the Board of the Dream Corporation, House of Gods and Monkey Puzzle. Lizzie focuses on sourcing new investment opportunities for Imbiba and transaction execution. She is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA).
Email: lizzie@imbiba.com
Simon Wheeler,
Co-founder & CFO
A chartered accountant, Simon trained at a Big Four practice before moving into industry with Cadbury Schweppes.
From 1997 Simon was Finance Director of the early Imbiba investments before transitioning to a Non-Executive Finance Director role, recruiting FDs into the respective businesses, ensuring high quality reporting and margin control across all Imbiba businesses. Simon is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA).
Email: simon@imbiba.com
Kieran Sherlock,
Partner & Property Director
Kieran has over 25 years hospitality and leisure experience. Prior to joining Imbiba, he was Property Director for YO!Sushi acquiring over 70 sites in both UK and the US. He brings significant acquisitions experience from his work with Mitchells and Butler, Whitbread and as former Property Director at Black Sheep Coffee. Kieran provides property expertise to portfolio businesses across site negotiation, management of landlords, lettings, real estate appraisal and site selection.
Email: kieran@imbiba.com
Andrew Maxwell, Operating Partner
Andrew has a proven track record of owning, operating, and scaling businesses through private equity. With extensive experience on both sides of the Atlantic, Andrew has achieved multiple successful exits throughout his career, including the recent sale of Boojum, Ireland's largest chain of Mexican restaurants, which was acquired by the Azzuri group.
Throughout his career, Andrew has worked across numerous verticals and concepts within hospitality and leisure. He has a deep understanding of operations, strategy, and growth, and sources new investment opportunities and provides support to our portfolio companies.
Email: andrew.maxwell@imbiba.com
Alison Wong, Director
Alison brings operational and functional support to our portfolio businesses across finance, procurement, financial due diligence, reporting and administration. She oversees our commitment to ESG and provides board representation across portfolio companies.
Prior to joining Imbiba, Alison has been financial director across multiple leisure brands and was a senior executive at Virgin and Deloitte. Alison is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA).
Email: alison@imbiba.com
Guy Whitfield, Director
Prior to joining Imbiba, Guy was formerly a VP at c*funds, an Amsterdam based boutique placement agent. Guy supported several funds across both Private Equity, Venture Capital, Credit and RE, where he successfully raised capital for funds in Europe, the US and Asia. Prior to c*funds, Guy worked at Liquidnet Europe Limited based in London.
Guy’s focus is on the fundraising and investor relations where he is responsible for maintaining and forming new relationships with a diverse range of investors.
Email: guy@imbiba.com
John Connell,
Co-founder & Chairman
John is a serial leisure entrepreneur who built and sold two UK pub groups prior to founding Imbiba in 1997 as a specialist investor, focused on the bar, restaurant and hospitality sectors. John has subsequently built and sold 10 leisure and hospitality businesses.
John has been Chairman of numerous Imbiba investments since 1997.
Email: john@imbiba.com
Brian Phillips,
Partner & Chairman of Investment Committee
Brian has over 30 years private equity experience, developing a wide range of businesses, initially at Bridgepoint, before founding Greenhill Capital (renamed Kester). Brian has completed over 40 private equity investments and overseen many more. His leisure market investments include Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia, Vue Cinemas and Rileys, amongst others.
Brian is currently Chairman of Purple Dragon and focuses on sourcing new investment opportunities for Imbiba and deal execution. Brian is a fully qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA).
Email: brian@imbiba.com
Fraser Bradshaw, Partner & CMO
Fraser has 30 years' experience in strategic marketing within client companies and communications agencies. As former Managing Director at McCann Erickson, he has worked in UK and international markets developing business and brand plans with a focus on the leisure industry. Fraser is founder and Chairman of digital and creative agency saintnicks.
Fraser works with all Imbiba portfolio businesses on their respective brand, marketing and digital strategies, and demand generation initiatives.
Email: fraser@imbiba.com
Tom Richards, Associate & Direct Origination Lead
Tom graduated from the University of Reading with a BSc in Real Estate and Planning. Since then, Tom has spent his career working in the leisure and hospitality property industries. Initially as an integral part of the team at Restaurant Property before moving on to form ARC; a niche commercial property agency specialising in hospitality and leisure, which he is still director of today.
Tom has excellent sector knowledge and focuses on sourcing new investment opportunities for Imbiba..
Email: tom@imbiba.com
Nick-Raj Birdi, Investment Manager
Nick has almost 10 years’ experience working in private equity. Prior to joining Imbiba, Nick was a corporate partner at Kirkland & Ellis, a leading US law firm, where he advised a full range of stakeholders across the private M&A space.
Nick is active across all areas of Imbiba’s operations with a specific focus on transaction analysis and execution, deal origination, and fund marketing.
Email: nick@imbiba.com
Carlo Rostagno, Investment Analyst
Prior to joining Imbiba, Carlo co-founded Hello Menu, a tech startup that offered personalised digital menu solutions to the hospitality industry. With a master's degree from ESCP Business School Carlo is actively involved in sourcing new investment opportunities for Imbiba. Carlo is fluent in German, English & Italian.
Carlo is active across all areas of Imbiba’s operations with a specific focus on transaction analysis and execution and deal origination.
Email: carlo@imbiba.com
Zoe Smith, Team Assistant
Zoe has over 10 years office management experience within real estate and creative industries.
Prior to joining Imbiba, Zoe worked for a creative design agency specialising in web-design, branding and advertising. Zoe shares her experience and enthusiasm with the Imbiba team, contributing to key administrative tasks and business support.
Email: zoe@imbiba.com
Advisory Board
Dame Karen Jones CBE
Chairwoman Hawksmoor and Mowgi.
Non-Executive Director of Deliveroo & Whitbread, Senior Government Advisor
Nick Collins
CEO Loungers Plc
Tim Clay
CEO Asahi UK
Robert Cook
Former CEO of Hostmore PLC, CEO of Virgin Action & CEO Mal Maison / Hotel du Vin
David McDowell
CEO Stonegate Pub Company
Richard Tallboy
Group CIO of Cote Restaurants and former CIO at Wagamama’s and The Restaurant Group