Richard Harpin

Chairman & Founder

Richard Harpin

Chairman & Founder

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Good to Great by Jim Collins. It served as the basis for guiding HomeServe’s development. I was also lucky enough to spend two days with Jim Collins in Colorado!

 

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

I am fascinated by the future of our Great British High Street. During Covid many people were quick to write off our high-streets but now look at how they have started to recover. I’m a great believer in omnichannel,  “bricks and clicks”.

 

What’s your favourite quote?

“Keep it simple stupid — (KISS)”. I’ve learned it’s much better to stick to the core model and do it much better and bigger.

 

Alumnus of:

HomeServe, Procter & Gamble, University of York

Jason Mahendran

CEO and Managing Partner

Jason Mahendran

CEO and Managing Partner

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

Why is everything curated now? What does that really mean?

 

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Invisalign — they managed to make braces aspirational

 

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?

Can I say walking the aisles in any retailer when I’m on holiday looking for new brands? (It is actually true!)

 

Alumnus of:

Active Partners, BB Retail Capital, Woolworths Group, JP Morgan, University of Oxford

Alex Marsh

Partner

Alex Marsh

Partner

What’s your go-to business growth story?

A North East bakery turned national institution — Greggs has risen right to the top.

 

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?

Like many other Gen-Zers and Millennials, I developed an (expensive!) obsession with houseplants during the pandemic.

 

What’s your favourite quote?

“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” Jeff Bezos.

 

Alumnus of:

Maven Capital Partners, PwC, Newcastle University

James Worrall

Partner

James Worrall

Partner

What’s your favourite question to ask a founder?

Which part of your role do you most enjoy and how much are you still doing this?

 

Who’s your dream dinner companion?

Jonny Wilkinson, my rugby idol. I’d love to hear about the dedication that drove him to reach the top of the mountain, only to realise “Now what? Was it all worth it?”

 

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Learning about neuroplasticity from a podcast with Dr Tara Swart and how you can continue learning and building new brain pathways well into your eighties!

 

Alumnus of:

Ardenton Capital, Deloitte, Everton Football Club, University of Manchester

James is partnered with...

Kate Voller Browning

Director of Value Creation

Kate Voller Browning

Director of Value Creation

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

What’s going to happen to the global supply chain as the US changes its tariffs? And how will US consumers feel when the tariffs get passed on?

 

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

“Social Commerce”: TikTok thinks it’s gonna take over the world. I find it a bit weird — but then I’m not Gen Z.

 

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Can I have two? Playing to Win, which is the most useful strategy framework I’ve found, and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

 

Alumnus of:

Mountain Warehouse, Boston Consulting Group, Ocado Retail, University of Cambridge

Kate is partnered with...

Callum Harvey

Investment Manager

Callum Harvey

Investment Manager

Who’s your dream dinner companion?

Phil Knight. Even after reading his memoirs in Shoe Dog, I’d never run out of questions.

 

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Next — a high-street powerhouse that consistently pivots and evolves its model to stay relevant (and successful!).

 

What’s your secret nerdy pastime?

Cycling on a weekend with the sole purpose of stopping for a flat white and carrot cake.

 

Alumnus of:

JP Morgan, Edinburgh Napier University

Callum is partnered with...

Jade Kelsall

Investment Manager

Jade Kelsall

Investment Manager

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

Women’s health, a hugely underserved market. There are a number of challenger brands I think are really exciting, changing customer habits and adoption, and solving big environmental issues.

 

What can’t you live without?

The Envelop coat from ACAI — been stitched to my back since I bought it!

 

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

High Performance Podcast: The Incredible Story of Dame Stephanie Shirley. She is a very inspirational lady!

 

Alumnus of:

Seneca, Grant Thornton LLP, University of Liverpool

Jade Kelsall is partnered with...

Fangyou Ye

Senior Investment Associate

Fangyou Ye

Senior Investment Associate

What’s a question you’d love to know the answer to?

What will be the most significant change in how people live and work over the next decade?

 

What’s your go-to business growth story?

Action — the fastest growing non-food discount retailer in Europe. It has mastered operational efficiency and rapid store expansion while maintaining a compelling value proposition for customers.

 

What can’t you live without?

My Stubble & Co Roll Top backpack — it’s the perfect companion for both work and travel.

 

Alumnus of:

Baird, AlTi Tiedemann Global, Bocconi University

Clarke Sorrell

Investment Associate

Clarke Sorrell

Investment Associate

What’s a consumer trend you’re watching?

Health & wellness. It’s always evolving with new, exciting (and often strange!) products, services and brands. Trying to pick which ones will stand the test of time is where it gets interesting…

 

If you could instantly gain a new skill, what would it be?

To speak a second language… For now, I’ll stick to Duolingo!

 

What can’t you live without?

My original Passenger Gilet. It goes with almost everything.

 

Alumnus of:

unw LLP, Newcastle University

Clarke is partnered with...

Annabel Eden

Team personal assistant

Annabel Eden

Team personal assistant

Who’s your dream dinner companion?

Kirsty Young. Having interviewed some of the most interesting people, she’d have many a good story to tell.

 

What’s your favourite question to ask a founder?

If you were to start all over again, what would you do differently?

 

What’s a book or podcast that has shaped your thinking?

Elizabeth Day’s podcast, “How to Fail.” She explores when things don’t always go to plan in your business and personal life through her stories. Her guests share their experiences and how to learn from life’s ups and downs.

 

Alumnus of:

Trophaeum Asset Management, Charbonnel et Walker, Oxford Media & Business School