OUR TEAM

ZeroPaper is backed by an investment team with substantial experience in operating, growing and financing businesses in a wide range of industries, from start-ups to substantial companies.

The team is comprised of thirteen investors and includes a diverse mix of highly respected business executives, successful entrepreneurs, and an institutional investor.

Selected members of the ZeroPaper team are shown below:

Tomas Gronager - CEO & Limited Partner

Tomas is CEO of ZeroPaper and responsible for growing this records management business. Tomas has been Managing Director for national and international divisions of major listed and private support service companies in the UK, Australia, Denmark and Internationally. In this capacity Tomas has successfully completed more than 25 acquisitions working with the vendor and management to ensure the smooth integration and long term success for all parties involved.

Gerard Downes - Designated Partner

Gerard is a co-founder of Pioneer Capital LLP, an investor in and promoter of search funds. ZeroPaper is the first search fund developed by Pioneer Capital. Gerard was Finance Director of Springboard plc, a quoted investment business that initially focused on funding management teams in their search to acquire or start businesses. Springboard was sold to Nova Capital in May 2006.

David Forbes - Limited Partner

David is the Managing Director of NM Rothschild & Sons in Leeds, and for a number of years has been a leading dealmaker in the North of England. He has advised some of the region's largest companies on corporate mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and fund raising.

Andrew Holt - Limited Partner

Andrew is a London based senior partner at international law firm DLA Piper UK LLP. Andrew specialises in private equity, advising leading UK private equity houses and companies on leveraged transactions.

Roger Lane-Smith - Limited Partner

Roger was Chairman and Senior Partner of DLA Piper LLP (one of the world's largest law firms) until his retirement in April 2005 and continues to be associated with DLA Piper as Senior Consultant. He co-founded Lanebridge Investment Management, a major syndicated property and wealth management business in 2002, now part of the N M Rothschild Group. Roger is Chairman of JJB Sports plc, the sports retailer, and on the board of a number of other quoted and private companies.

Tim Lyle - Limited Partner

Tim is a partner at Livingstone Partners, a leading investment banking boutique specialising in cross-border company sales, acquisitions and private equity transactions. Tim has advised on over 100 deals at Livingstone with deal values of up to £200m, and is jointly responsible for Livingstone's Media & Marketing Services team.

Anthony Preston - Limited Partner

Anthony developed the concept of superstore retailing for the UK pet industry. In 1991 he founded Pets at Home with a single store in Chester, since which time the company has grown rapidly. The company strengthened its position as market leader in 2000 when it bought up PetSmart from its US parent company, and currently operates from 207 stores at out-of-town shopping centres across the country. Private-equity house Bridgepoint acquired the business in 2004.

Stephen Ross - Designated Partner

Stephen has had substantial venture capital experience as founder of AIM-listed Springboard plc, and prior to that as a Director of 3i plc. Recently he co-founded Pioneer Capital to back experienced individuals whilst they search for their own deals. Stephen is chairman of NES, a global technical recruitment business backed by Graphite Capital, and is also on the board of a number of other private companies.

Ron Stratton - Limited Partner

Ron founded the world's third largest Rolls Royce & Bentley dealership, the eponymous Ron Stratton of Knutsford, Cheshire, which he sold to the quoted Motor Group Sytner in 2001. Ron is now a significant private investor.

James Wellesley Wesley - Limited Partner

James is a Managing Director in the investment banking division of one of the largest mid market investment banks in the UK. He was previously head of the equities and investment banking divisions of Robert W Baird in the UK as well as being an Executive Director of Bridgewell. He has many years of experience in M&A and private and public equity financings and particularly focuses on advising companies in the Support Services sector.

Simon Woolley - Limited Partner

Simon is the Office Managing Partner in Manchester of international law firm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary LLP. He is a leading banking lawyer, specialising in leveraged finance and handles domestic and multi-jurisdictional financings, with a particular specialism in public to private transactions. Simon was until recently a member of the Board of DLA Piper International LLP.