15/09/2022 - News

Christopher Jones joins Clearwater International as Managing Partner and Head of London

Christopher Jones horizontal web
Clearwater further strengthens its presence in London

Global corporate finance advisory firm Clearwater International is further strengthening its presence in London with the appointment of a new Managing Partner and a move to larger premises.

Christopher Jones joins as a Managing Partner and Head of London to lead the ongoing development of its 35-strong team in the capital.

This appointment will allow fellow Managing Partner, Marcus Archer, to expand his leadership role working alongside UK CEO Mark Taylor and devote more time to his strategic role of leading private equity coverage internationally, in addition to driving the sector focused approach to M&A across the UK.

Jones’ arrival will support the continuing growth of Clearwater

In the new year, the London team will move from its current base in Chandos Place, Covent Garden to larger offices at the newly refurbished 11 The Strand.

Jones’ arrival and the office move will support the continuing growth of Clearwater International, with its UK business advising on 68 transactions worth a combined €4bn in the latest financial year ending March 2022.

It also reinforces Clearwater International’s position as a top 10 European advisory firm in the private equity mid-market, where the UK team advised on 23 buyouts and 18 private equity exits during the FY March 22.

Jones has two decades of specialist mid-market corporate finance expertise across travel and leisure, e-commerce and consumer brands, working on over 60 deals with a combined deal value of over €3bn.

In recent years he has led the sale of Travel Chapter twice (to ECI Partners and subsequently Intermediate Capital Group), advised KKR backed Travelopia twice, advised the shareholders of Watchfinder.co.uk on the sale to Richemont and advised Vitruvian Partners on its investments in both Travel Counsellors and MPB.com.

Jones joins from the global consumer team of Houlihan Lokey. Having started his career at EY, he spent eight years at Arrowpoint Advisory before joining Altium Capital (now Houlihan Lokey) in 2013.

Mark Taylor BG2

Mark Taylor, UK CEO of Clearwater International, said:

“In challenging times management teams, sponsors and funders demand the best advice, which is why we’re constantly investing to attract and develop the highest calibre talent in the UK and internationally.

“Christopher’s appointment will provide us with additional leadership within the UK as well as heading up the Consumer team across Europe.

“This is an exciting period for our business as we continue to look to invest in strategically important sectors and service lines. These plans and the Clearwater brand are enabling us to attract some of the best talent within our industry.”

Christopher Jones no tie

Christopher Jones, Managing Partner, Head of London at Clearwater International

“I have long admired Clearwater and I’m incredibly proud to be joining this highly ambitious advisory firm at a time when it is growing on all fronts, both nationally and globally.

“This investment in the new office and the expansion of the London team will help strengthen our relationships with private equity, which now accounts for more than half of all transactions across the business, as we consolidate our reputation as independent, trusted advisors to entrepreneurs, investors and corporates.”

Founded twenty years ago, Clearwater International achieved strong global growth in FY 21/22, with revenues rising by 110% to €153 million.

During that period, the business completed 221 deals, representing a 60% increase in deal volume and placing Clearwater eighth in the Pan-European financial advisors league tables.

The business also recently launched Clearwater Growth in the UK, a new division that provides a range of transaction services tailored to the needs of entrepreneurs and owner managers of businesses with turnovers up to £40m and equity cheques up to £15m.

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