Mercia Fund Managers is expanding its equity team with the appointment of a new investment director, following the announcement of the closing of the £45.1million EV Growth II fund in December 2017.

Based in Mercia’s office on King Street in Manchester, Jill Williams will focus on investing in high-growth SMEs across the UK in a range of sectors and managing portfolio companies.

Originally from the North West, Jill has worked with the Wheatsheaf Group, a long-term investor in food and agriculture businesses, and she has spent several years in the corporate finance and corporate tax teams at PwC as a chartered accountant. Prior to joining Mercia, Jill was an investment director at RJD Partners based in London, investing in businesses across the UK mid and lower-mid market.

Jill has joined the established EV Growth team and will be working alongside investment director and fund manager Wayne Thomas and investment executive Melanie Hooper.

Wayne Thomas, who leads the EV Growth team, said: “We are really excited to have Jill on board the Mercia team as we continue to raise awareness of the new EV Growth II fund and source strong deal flow from the North West regions and beyond. She has considerable experience, having spent over 10 years in private equity investment, within several sectors including business services, leisure, travel, education, and IT services.”

Commenting on her new role, Jill Williams said: “I am delighted to be joining Mercia’s EV Growth team in Manchester. They have a very successful track record, and the recently raised EV Growth II fund is in a strong position to invest in some of the UK’s most exciting and dynamic SMEs across the North and other UK regions. I am looking forward to working with the Mercia team to back ambitious management teams to grow their businesses.”

The EV Growth II fund makes investments of up to £5.0million in established and ambitious SMEs, looking to grow, with a focus on management buyouts and replacement capital. Jill Williams, Investment Director at Mercia