META CORPORATE FINANCE - Key Persons
Adrian was managing director of Adastra Software Limited and engaged Meta in a project culminating in Adastra's reverse takeover into an AIM-listed Advanced Computer Software Group Plc. He has subsequently worked with Meta on transactions in the health software market.
Adrian is currently the managing director for a travel business and adviser to a small software company. In addition, Adrian has been a trustee for Dimensions UK, a leading provider of support to people with learning difficulties, for a number of years.
In his spare time Hans Christian enjoys tennis, golf, skiing, reading, swimming and long walks on the beach.
Jim is now retired from full-time corporate life but continues to be busy as Chairman of Kilmarnock FC (Scottish Premier League) and as a non-executive Director of Badminton England. He is heavily involved in two start-up companies and is also a director of Meta.
Jim has operated at the top end of large corporates since the late 1980's with a focus on business transformation through the deployment of new and emerging technologies. Most recently, he was Group CIO and Procurement Director in TUI Travel PLC and prior to that was Director Group Operations and Technology in NatWest Bank.
Mark has led Meta to be one of the best known corporate finance advisory businesses in the south of the UK which is widely respected for high quality advice and empathetic transaction management services.
Mark has developed Meta's Associate model bringing in industry and skill specific specialists who offer not only a flexible resource but real depth in both transactional and non-transactional experience. Clients find this mix of pure M&A and financial skills with a real depth of industry and transactional experience very attractive, not least in identifying the real drivers of value in their sectors and businesses.
Mark is best known for his creativity in transaction structuring and dealing with complex shareholder issues, always being focused on getting transactions completed and meeting the overall objectives from both a shareholder and corporate perspective.
Despite a degree in chemical engineering, Mark chose a career in finance and worked in KPMG's offices in London, Gatwick and Maidstone. He was one of the original members of KPMG's M&A practice in London and founded Meta in 1999. Mark was awarded the ICAEW Corporate Finance Qualification in 2006 and sits on the steering committee of the Kent Corporate Finance Alliance.
Mark is also Head of EMEA and sits on the management committee of CDI Global, a worldwide M&A cross border specialist with over 50 offices in 30 different countries. CDI is a unique business with a good mix of M&A specialists and ex corporate development officers who know their industries in depth. CDI has advised major corporates worldwide in searching for acquisition targets and divesting businesses as well as assisting global private equity players achieve their goals.
Mark also chairs a marketing consultancy in the built environment and a holiday let company, both with other family shareholders.
Mark's interests outside work include travel, including by motorbike, good food and wine and the joy of entertaining friends and family.
Peter graduated from Bristol University with a BSc in economics & accounting. He joined KPMG, qualified as a chartered accountant and joined KPMG Corporate Finance in 1993.
Peter has twenty years' experience in managing company sales, MBOs, acquisitions and flotations in the south-east, London and Birmingham. He founded Meta with Mark Ledger-Beadell in 1999 and was awarded the ICAEW Corporate Finance Qualification in 2006. Since then, Peter has become one of the region's foremost corporate finance advisers, specialising in company sales and MBOs.
Peter is married with three children, likes to ski, run and cook and is an occasional contributor to petrolblog.com.
Sean has over twenty years' experience as an FD & Corporate Development adviser to a number of start-ups, owner managed business as well as larger listed international corporates.
He has led strategic reviews, turnarounds, acquisitions, and exits in B2B sectors covering Technology, Telecoms, Financial Services & business services. This has equipped him within in-depth working knowledge and experience of doing business in USA, Europe and Asia. He holds a Chemistry degree from Imperial College, an MBA from Henley, and is an FCA.
Simon leads the CDI Global European Chemicals Team and has over thirty years' experience in the chemicals industry, including seven years as global commercial director of Ineos Silicas. He holds a degree in chemical engineering and a postgraduate diploma in European Competition Law.
Simon worked as an engineering trainee for Unilever, before rising through the ranks in the commercial function at ICI, Ineos and PQ. His experience includes sales, marketing, procurement, business development, general management and M&A. He has wide geographical knowledge, having lived and worked in the UK, the Netherlands and Brazil. In 2007-2008, he was a key part of the Ineos team that assembled the PQ joint venture with Carlyle. Since 2010, he has advised chemicals industry clients on topics ranging from product and market development through to strategy, corporate development and M&A. In 2016, he project managed the integration of a $300m acquisition for Synthomer plc.
Will graduated from UCW Aberystwyth in 1983 with a degree in Economics and Business studies. Will trained and qualified with a London based firm of chartered accountants where he became a partner in 1995.
On leaving the practice Will was involved in the establishment of Revive Group, a software developer supplying the NHS, which was acquired by iSoft in 2002. Will has subsequently held a number of senior positions in recruitment and bio-tech businesses.