Chairman & Gatekeeper – Kevin Grainger
Kevin is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years track record in the IT industry, and in commercial and residential property investment. He established and exited several software companies and has mentored early stage technology businesses. Having worked in both corporate and SME/start-up environments, Kevin has a wealth of business experience covering technology, finance, sales and marketing, man management, fund-raising, strategic planning, operations, project management and customer account management. Kevin was a semi-finalist in the Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Awards’ in 2001 and 2003 for his involvement in two of the IT businesses which he co-founded. Kevin holds non-executive director posts in several of EOS's investee companies. Kevin has a Physics degree from St. Andrews University.
Director – Derek Leslie
Derek is a highly commercial finance and operations director with over 20 years in senior management, working across many diverse business functions and industries, for organisations such as Diageo, Macdonald Hotels, Mobil and Merrill Lynch. He is just as interested in growing beans as counting them. Bringing expertise in acquisitions, mergers, re-financing and business sales, Derek has a deep understanding of how to generate and deliver value for an organisation. He also has extensive skills in business process improvement, IT & Systems and project and programme management. He is currently Finance Director at The James Hutton Institute based in Dundee.
Director – Alistair Lang
Alistair heads up the corporate legal team at Thornton Law LLP based in St. Andrews. He advises on all aspects of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, corporate restructuring and intellectual property. Alistair is actively involved in the golf market and acts for some of Scotland’s largest and most renowned golfing interests. He and his team also act for SMEs and university spin-out companies across the country – focusing on high-growth businesses.
Advisor – Neil Norman
Neil is Director; Corporate Tax Services at accountancy firm Chiene & Tait in Edinburgh. He leads the firm’s Entrepreneurial Group, providing specialist services to high growth companies, such as: SEIS/EIS advisory; angel and corporate investment structuring; R&D and Patent Box tax relief claims; restructuring and refinancing groups of companies; shares schemes and employee remuneration advisory services; and implementation services and exit strategy and execution services. Prior to joining Chiene & Tait, Neil worked for KPMG LLP on the Corporate Tax side of the business.
Kevin is a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years track record in the IT industry, and in commercial and residential property investment. He established and exited several software companies and has mentored early stage technology businesses. Having worked in both corporate and SME/start-up environments, Kevin has a wealth of business experience covering technology, finance, sales and marketing, man management, fund-raising, strategic planning, operations, project management and customer account management. Kevin was a semi-finalist in the Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Awards’ in 2001 and 2003 for his involvement in two of the IT businesses which he co-founded. Kevin holds non-executive director posts in several of EOS's investee companies. Kevin has a Physics degree from St. Andrews University.
Director – Derek Leslie
Derek is a highly commercial finance and operations director with over 20 years in senior management, working across many diverse business functions and industries, for organisations such as Diageo, Macdonald Hotels, Mobil and Merrill Lynch. He is just as interested in growing beans as counting them. Bringing expertise in acquisitions, mergers, re-financing and business sales, Derek has a deep understanding of how to generate and deliver value for an organisation. He also has extensive skills in business process improvement, IT & Systems and project and programme management. He is currently Finance Director at The James Hutton Institute based in Dundee.
Director – Alistair Lang
Alistair heads up the corporate legal team at Thornton Law LLP based in St. Andrews. He advises on all aspects of corporate law, including mergers and acquisitions, equity investments, corporate restructuring and intellectual property. Alistair is actively involved in the golf market and acts for some of Scotland’s largest and most renowned golfing interests. He and his team also act for SMEs and university spin-out companies across the country – focusing on high-growth businesses.
Advisor – Neil Norman
Neil is Director; Corporate Tax Services at accountancy firm Chiene & Tait in Edinburgh. He leads the firm’s Entrepreneurial Group, providing specialist services to high growth companies, such as: SEIS/EIS advisory; angel and corporate investment structuring; R&D and Patent Box tax relief claims; restructuring and refinancing groups of companies; shares schemes and employee remuneration advisory services; and implementation services and exit strategy and execution services. Prior to joining Chiene & Tait, Neil worked for KPMG LLP on the Corporate Tax side of the business.
