Our Team
James Rose - Founder
James is Founder & Director of Rose Equity Partners, and brings over two decades of entrepreneurial experience; including starting, scaling and advising numerous high growth media and technology businesses.
As a commercial leader, James created significant shareholder value for PE-backed ventures - implementing effective GTM strategies, and leading revenue functions from £0.5m - £7M+.
He also worked cross functionally with product and development teams to devise, refine, and commercialise innovative SaaS products.
James now applies this operational experience to invest in and acquire businesses that have yet to reach their full potential.
Jan-Philip Matthews - Partner
Jan-Philipp is an Entrepreneur & Investor in Media, Marketing & Technology businesses with more than a decade of experience in corporate finance and growing SME businesses.
Throughout his career, he also held operating roles as CEO and CFO for some of his portfolio companies where he helped business transformation in turnaround as well as high growth situations.
As a seasoned dealmaker with dozens of transactions to his name, Jan-Philipp now especially focuses on enabling growth through acquisitions for ambitious buy-and-build platforms, and supporting the group development for Rose Equity Partners.
He is also a CFA charterholder and has a Doctorate in Finance.
Kevin Steel FCCA - Fractional CFO
Kevin is a chartered certified accountant and Fractional CFO with 10+ years post-qualified experience who has built and sold an accounting firm and worked as CFO & COO for venture-backed startups and multi-entity organisations.
He specialises working with early-stage tech startups and established companies in the £1mm-£15mm revenue B2B space, leveraging systems and data to provide actionable insights along with providing operational & strategy support to executive teams.
He is best described as an "expert generalist" with a specialism in finance and is extremely tech-focused in his approach. He writes finance and strategy content regularly on LinkedIn and you can connect with him here.
Michelle Clarke - Non- Executive Director
Michelle is a seasoned entrepreneur, PLC board director, and CEO with extensive experience in leading fast-growth businesses. She has a proven track record of adding significant value to company boards and executing strategies for exponential growth. In 2022, Michelle was instrumental, as one of the directors and founders, in taking a group of companies public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), following the successful integration of several acquisitions.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Michelle is deeply committed to her local community. She actively engages in volunteering and fundraising initiatives, reflecting her dedication to social responsibility.
Michelle's unique blend of business acumen and community involvement makes her a respected leader and valuable asset to our Board and our equity partners.
Nicki Allitt - Non-Executive Director
Nicki is an accomplished Chief Communications Officer and Non-Executive Director with extensive experience across 6 countries and diverse industries. She currently heads up the Strategic Communications unit at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland and prior to that was Chief Communications Officer at ISS Facilities Management in Denmark. She has also held senior communication roles at Syngenta International and Shell International.
Nicki has successfully managed reputational and crisis management, governance, strategic oversight, leadership and transformation across Executive, Non-Executive, and Advisory roles.
Her expertise lies in shaping corporate strategy and guiding organisations through complex change, M&A activities, and business transformation.
With experience in ESG, risk management, stakeholder engagement, financial results disclosure and communications, as well as international team leadership (>85), she helps businesses to overcome challenges and grow. As a Board member, Nicki guides Rose Equity Partners and select SME's through critical funding rounds, offers investor insights, and brings fresh perspectives to decision-making that drives sustainable growth and impact.
Leon Rubinstein - Non-Executive Director
Leon Rubinstein is an active member of the Board of Advisors at Veblen Directors Program and Sublimis Technologies. He brings decades of experience in international business development through focused value-based strategy and execution.
Leon was a Partner in TBK Consult, a pan-European business development network for ambitious software companies and has a long experience of growing startups. He was also Director of a corporate seed fund and an incubator at Xerox Europe.
Leon is also a pro bono member of the Executive Team at BigBooster, an International startup accelerator for startups with impact, where he was also a mentor and a judge since the inception. His depth of experience within the software and technology ecosystem brings unique insights to our Board and our partners.
Archita Fritz - Non-Executive Director
Archita Sivakumar Fritz is an award-winning strategic leader and board advisor with over 20 years of experience in driving transformative growth across various sectors, including MedTech, SaaS and Technology. She has successfully launched over 25 products globally, generating $2.1 billion in revenue for Fortune 500 companies as well as VC and PE-backed scale ups. Archita serves on multiple boards, where she leverages her expertise to foster innovation and inclusivity.
As the Chief Marketing Officer for non profit Speak Out Revolution, she champions workplace safety and psychological well-being. Her expertise in product marketing and go-to-market strategies has been instrumental in helping organizations navigate critical growth phases and market expansions. She is based in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Her unique perspective, shaped by her experiences as a trailblazer in various fields, makes her an invaluable asset to the Board bringing innovative approaches that drive substantial growth and transformation.
Yvonne Venter - Non-Executive Director
Yvonne is a Chartered Accountant with over 27 years of extensive experience in Financial Management, Operations, and Corporate Finance, having worked across a wide array of industries including Infrastructure Development, Construction, Aviation, Automotive Manufacturing, and Financial Services.
In her Corporate Finance roles, Yvonne has developed deep expertise in Corporate Strategy, Financial and Corporate Restructuring, Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity transactions, deal structuring, and securing both debt and equity finance. Her skill set is enriched by her work with prominent blue-chip organizations such as PwC, Investec, PSG, and De Beers, where she managed complex Due Diligence reviews, Valuations, Expert Testimony (Sec 114 Fair & Reasonable, PPAs), Goodwill Impairment Reviews, Loss Adjustment, Forensic Audits, Financial Modelling, and Governance, Risk & Compliance.
Yvonne's robust capital-raising track record has allowed her to build a strong network within the Corporate Finance Industry, fostering relationships with Equity Funders, Commercial Lenders, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), as well as Local, Regional, and International Investors and corporate clients across diverse sectors.
Kemi Egan - Non-Executive Director
Kemi is a highly regarded investor with over thirty personal M&A transactions and consulting on hundreds more, her advice is regularly sought after by various media outlets.
After over two decades in the trenches navigating the ups and downs of running, scaling, acquiring and exiting businesses, success it's no longer just about numbers; it's about impact.
She therefore brings considerable experience to Rose Equity Partners in terms of deal structuring, risk management, diligence, debt and equity funding, and private equity transactions.
As a private investor and business leader, she also brings a unique blend of experience, agility and hands-on operations to the table. Focused on creating equitable partnerships where everyone wins, her knowledge and experience isn't just theoretical, it's grounded in the realities of running and growing successful SME's.
Let's discuss what an equity growth partnership could do for your business.
Get in touch with one of our growth partners at info@roseequitypartners.com or arrange a call back. You can also schedule a conversation directly using our form.
