Matthew Charman

Co-Founder

After narrowly escaping an early career in restructuring and M&A, I spent the best part of a decade working alongside Charles and Scott at one of Europe’s most successful private equity funds. Over time, the pull to take the entrepreneurial leap and build our own business became too strong to resist.

My first job was dishwashing in a care home. Whilst the job itself has certainly changed, my work ethic remains the same. I am inquisitive about how things work, interested in what makes people tick and have a passion for unpicking business models and value chains. Investing to support founders and teams grow great companies has always felt like the perfect fit.

Outside of work I’m a big proponent of keeping active, whether that be with a racquet in hand or (more recently) marathon running. I even took my daughter to her first Park Run at 4 years old which, fortunately for me, she loved!

Focus Areas: Financial Distribution, Vertical SaaS, Governance Risk & Compliance, Professional Services

Scott Fairlie

Co-Founder

Visiting my grandparents’ toy shop in Glasgow taught me the value of hard work and instilled entrepreneurial ambitions within me from a young age.

After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG, I moved into private equity and worked for two of Europe’s most successful funds. It was at one of those that I met Charles and Matt, and the rest is history.

The greatest part of my job is the variety of people I meet and businesses I have the privilege to help scale. My career so far has taught me that creating and harnessing effective culture is at the heart of every long-term success story.

My happy place is by the sea, be that a family trip to the West Coast of Scotland or a holiday in Santa Barbara, albeit California is a little more tricky these days, with young kids in tow!

Focus Areas: FinTech, Cyber, IT Services, Testing, inspection, certification, Vertical SaaS

Charles Dale

Co-Founder

I co-founded Northcote alongside longstanding friends and colleagues, Matt and Scott. Following successful careers at some of Europe’s leading private equity funds, the time came to finally ‘walk the walk’ and launch our own firm.

In my opinion, private equity is all about people. At Northcote we have a simple goal, to work with the brightest and boldest company founders across the UK and Ireland. This is my favourite part about what we do: forging new partnerships as we discover future success stories.

Outside of work, you’ll often find me tirelessly cheering on England at Twickenham or out on the golf course making little to no progress on my handicap. I live in South West London, a mere stone’s throw from the spiritual home in which our early visions of Northcote Equity were dreamt up!

Focus Areas: Data & Insights, EdTech, Digital Health, HCM

Darren Jordan

CFO/COO

After graduating with a degree in history, PwC marginally improved my chances of employment by training me as a Chartered Accountant.

I spent nine years in PwC’s London and Sydney offices before embarking on a career in private equity. In 2000, I joined Inflexion (a new mid-market firm at the time) and subsequently continued my career at Silverfleet Capital.

I was introduced to Charles, Matt and Scott by a former colleague who had been the CFO at one of their portfolio companies. After giving them some friendly guidance around the operational set-up of a new firm, I was delighted when asked to join this new venture.

I’d love to say that my time outside of work is spent training for my next Iron Man or working on a ‘Grand Designs’ self-build project, but I shall leave the endurance training to Matt and hanging a picture on a wall is the limit of my DIY skills. Instead, you’ll generally find me in an art gallery, at the theatre, wine tasting or watching an Ipswich Town football match. However, my real passion is live music and I’m never happier than when in a remote corner of Glastonbury Festival.

Tom Gilbride

Investor

Entrepreneurship has been a constant influence throughout my life. My grandparents were bakers and confectionary shop owners respectively, before both my parents started their own businesses separately and then together. It certainly wasn’t plain sailing for them, experiencing highs and bruising lows like every founder does. I hope that being immersed in that world has allowed me to build compassion and understanding as an investor when partnering with management teams on their journeys forward.

I spent five years working in M&A, before joining one of the UK’s most established mid-market private equity funds. What I enjoyed most across those years was working with exceptional management teams. So when I met Matt, Scott and Charles and learned about their vision for Northcote, it was a no-brainer to join them on this journey.

Whilst not at work, I enjoy exploring the great outdoors (whether on foot or by bike), travelling around this little planet we call home or having my heart broken following Scottish rugby.

Focus areas: Vertical SaaS, IT Services, Cyber, Data & Insights

Patrice Veasey

Investor

I’ve always enjoyed working with ambitious teams – there’s something unique about the energy, conviction and purpose that comes with businesses built by people who care deeply about what they’re creating. I spent over five years in TMT M&A, where I worked closely with founders across the software and interactive entertainment sectors. During that time, I realised I was most energised by the journey that followed a transaction – the value creation, the scaling challenges, and the opportunity to build something meaningful. That insight led me to Northcote, where I have the privilege of working shoulder to shoulder with leaders over the long term.

I enjoy working with teams that are deeply invested in what they’re building. I take a hands-on approach, but always with the understanding that founders and management teams know their business and industry better than anyone.

My early years were spent living between Bangkok and Singapore, which gave me a deep appreciation for travel, culture, and culinary exploration. Outside of work, I'm a devoted Formula 1 enthusiast, and despite the persistent heartache of supporting Norwich City, I remain eternally optimistic. When not nursing yet another sports injury, I can typically be found attempting (with mixed success) to refine my golf swing or taking long walks through Epping Forest.

Focus areas: Vertical SaaS, Data & Insights, Tech-enabled Services

Frances Lausen

Investor

I began my career at PwC, training as a Chartered Accountant, before spending six years delivering financial due diligence across technology, media and consumer businesses. After advising Northcote on its first transaction, I welcomed the opportunity to move into private equity, continuing to work with Matt, Scott, and Charles. Naturally inquisitive, I’m fascinated by what underpins successful companies and how they evolve and navigate challenges, and I look forward to moving from diligencing companies to partnering with ambitious businesses as they scale.
 
Outside of work, I’m a big sports fan — for me, nothing quite beats a summer evening at The Oval with Wimbledon just down the road. Growing up in the South West of England, I enjoy being outdoors and getting out for a run. Perhaps not the intended goal of a race, but half marathons have proven the perfect way to combine travel, exercise and wine tasting.

Felicity Winterflood-Watkins

EA to the Founders

With a background spanning fashion, finance, and events, I bring a diverse skill set and a love for organisation to my role at Northcote. From running a boutique to working as an EA in finance and events, I am passionate about creating exceptional experiences and ensuring everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes. I’m delighted to support the founders at Northcote, bringing my EA expertise, creativity, and can-do attitude to the team.

Outside of work, you’ll likely find me chasing my mischievous dachshund around Dulwich Park, in a hot yoga studio, or enjoying a glass in hand at the races. I also run a bespoke hospitality and events company in my spare time and am a big fan of all things social and sporting.

Focus areas: Full EA support for the Co-Founders, event planning, and ensuring a standout client experience