Our Associates

Over the years we have worked with a number of entrepreneurs who have a variety of operational skills. They have all run successful businesses and have considerable experience within their sector. We call upon them to help with transactions where appropriate.

Martyn Coffee

Martyn works with RCP to source private company transactions. An experienced M&A practitioner, Martyn has specialised in finding private companies for sale for over 30 years. His company Chartercourt, employs researchers who link industry and internet research with financial analysis of business accounts filed at Companies House. Martyn and RCP develop investment strategies to discreetly identify, approach and acquire attractive privately owned businesses.

Paul May

Paul has over 20 years experience as a manager and owner of public and private companies. He has a wide range of experience in general and financial management. He has been involved in a number of sectors including retail, financial services, leisure, manufacturing and business services. He has experience of growing businesses such as Cash-a-Cheque – taking it from 1 store to 60 stores in 4 years – as well as turnarounds. He has been known to Risk Capital’s principals for over 10 years and has been CEO of two of Risk Capital’s portfolio companies. He is currently acting as full time CEO of Patisserie Holdings.

Gary Ashworth

Gary is the founder and Executive Chairman of InterQuest Group PLC, a specialist IT recruitment business, which floated on AIM in May 2005. Prior to that, he founded Abacus Recruitment plc, which was the best performing AIM share in both 1996 and 1997 and was subsequently sold to Carlisle Holdings in 1998 for a ten fold multiple of its float price. Gary is a Fellow and Past President of the Institute of Employment Consultants.

Ian Eldridge

A hotel and catering graduate, trained with Grand Metropolitan, THF Leisure and the Savoy Group. As Chief Executive of PizzaExpress PLC he was instrumental in taking them from 6 to over 300 restaurants worldwide. Since exiting PizzaExpress he has worked with Six Continents and Giraffe restaurants and more recently has established and developed Bartellas, an up scale neighbourhood restaurant concept.

Russel Joffe

Russel Joffe has extensive experience in the restaurant sector. Between 1977 and 1984 he managed Odettes, Coconut Grove and Langhams Brasserie in London. Russel opened his first restaurant, Le Bistroquet in London in 1984 which was successfully sold to Allied Lyons in 1989. During this time he owned Rosslyn Deli in Hampstead and started Café Flo, selling the business in 1994 having added a further 8 sites. Russel then spent 4 years living in Israel. Russel created the first Giraffe in Hampstead in 1998 which has now expanded into 18 sites, including recent openings outside London.