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Scott Lanphere is a seasoned private equity investor with over 30 years of experience across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He has led and executed 30 investments across four partnerships, contributing to a cumulative enterprise value of €9 billion and delivering 2.62x returns with a 59%+ IRR (KPMG verified).
A recognized buy-and-build strategist, Scott has played a pivotal role in €7.7 billion in M&A assignments and raised €5.7 billion in debt financing, including nine public debt issuances, five IPOs, and two fully-financed public tender offers (EV €1.45 billion). His capital market expertise includes leading Poland’s first non-sovereign debt issuance (1997) and France’s first corporate high-yield issuance (1999).
Scott was a Managing Director at Advent International, where he expanded the firm’s European footprint and delivered 3.4x returns on €346 million. At Deutsche Bank’s Morgan Grenfell Private Equity, he managed €674 million in investments with a 67% IRR. Later, as a fundless sponsor, he founded Eaton Gate Capital Partners Ltd., securing €76 million and delivering 3.5x returns for investors.
His leadership in fintech includes co-founding OmniOne, where he raised £35 million, and restructuring Talenthouse, which later listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. He has served on the boards of 50 companies across Europe and the US and held executive roles in distressed asset turnarounds, private equity operations, and large-scale restructuring.
As Chairman of Aragon Investment Group, Scott leverages his extensive M&A, IPO, and private equity expertise to drive strategic consolidation, scale businesses, and create significant shareholder value.
Bruce Murray is a highly experienced CFO and strategic financial leader with a proven track record in M&A, private equity transactions, and business scaling. A Chartered Accountant (KPMG-trained), he has spent his career driving financial strategy, operational efficiencies, and shareholder value creation across multiple industries.
Bruce played a pivotal role in the 15-year growth of Food Innovations Baking Group (FIBG), where he was a 30% shareholder. Under his leadership, FIBG expanded through the acquisition and integration of complementary, distressed assets, scaling from a single-site operation with £2.5 million in revenue and £350k EBITDA to a £50 million business generating over £4 million in EBITDA across four sites, employing 300+ people.
This highly leveraged growth strategy was executed solely through debt financing (ABL and cashflow lending), with no additional equity investment—a testament to Bruce’s expertise in financial structuring and capital efficiency. He successfully orchestrated and led FIBG’s private equity-backed exit in 2019, creating approximately £30 million in shareholder value, and fully exited the business in early 2022.
Previously, Bruce spent five years in mid-market M&A and corporate finance at Rickitt Mitchell, advising on buy-side and sell-side transactions, as well as early-stage fundraisings. His deep expertise spans debt structuring, financial turnarounds, and value creation strategies, making him a key driver of Aragon Investment Group’s buy-and-build model.
Bruce is now focused on identifying and scaling high-growth SMEs, leveraging his experience in PE-backed exits, acquisition-driven growth, and financial strategy to unlock significant value.
Chairman
Scott Lanphere is a seasoned private equity investor with over 30 years of experience across the US, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He has led and executed 30 investments across four partnerships, contributing to a cumulative enterprise value of €9 billion and delivering 2.62x returns with a 59%+ IRR (KPMG verified).
A recognized buy-and-build strategist, Scott has played a pivotal role in €7.7 billion in M&A assignments and raised €5.7 billion in debt financing, including nine public debt issuances, five IPOs, and two fully-financed public tender offers (EV €1.45 billion). His capital market expertise includes leading Poland’s first non-sovereign debt issuance (1997) and France’s first corporate high-yield issuance (1999).
Scott was a Managing Director at Advent International, where he expanded the firm’s European footprint and delivered 3.4x returns on €346 million. At Deutsche Bank’s Morgan Grenfell Private Equity, he managed €674 million in investments with a 67% IRR. Later, as a fundless sponsor, he founded Eaton Gate Capital Partners Ltd., securing €76 million and delivering 3.5x returns for investors.
His leadership in fintech includes co-founding OmniOne, where he raised £35 million, and restructuring Talenthouse, which later listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. He has served on the boards of 50 companies across Europe and the US and held executive roles in distressed asset turnarounds, private equity operations, and large-scale restructuring.
As Chairman of Aragon Investment Group, Scott leverages his extensive M&A, IPO, and private equity expertise to drive strategic consolidation, scale businesses, and create significant shareholder value.
Chief Financial Officer
Bruce Murray is a highly experienced CFO and strategic financial leader with a proven track record in M&A, private equity transactions, and business scaling. A Chartered Accountant (KPMG-trained), he has spent his career driving financial strategy, operational efficiencies, and shareholder value creation across multiple industries.
Bruce played a pivotal role in the 15-year growth of Food Innovations Baking Group (FIBG), where he was a 30% shareholder. Under his leadership, FIBG expanded through the acquisition and integration of complementary, distressed assets, scaling from a single-site operation with £2.5 million in revenue and £350k EBITDA to a £50 million business generating over £4 million in EBITDA across four sites, employing 300+ people.
This highly leveraged growth strategy was executed solely through debt financing (ABL and cashflow lending), with no additional equity investment—a testament to Bruce’s expertise in financial structuring and capital efficiency. He successfully orchestrated and led FIBG’s private equity-backed exit in 2019, creating approximately £30 million in shareholder value, and fully exited the business in early 2022.
Previously, Bruce spent five years in mid-market M&A and corporate finance at Rickitt Mitchell, advising on buy-side and sell-side transactions, as well as early-stage fundraisings. His deep expertise spans debt structuring, financial turnarounds, and value creation strategies, making him a key driver of Aragon Investment Group’s buy-and-build model.
Bruce is now focused on identifying and scaling high-growth SMEs, leveraging his experience in PE-backed exits, acquisition-driven growth, and financial strategy to unlock significant value.
Chief Technology Officer
Nick Thackray is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience driving business transformation through strategic IT leadership. He has held pivotal roles such as Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and IT Director across diverse sectors, including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Telecoms, and the Public Sector.
Specializing in IT Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Nick has a proven track record of optimizing service delivery, integrating cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring seamless alignment with business objectives. His deep understanding of the MSP landscape has enabled organizations to enhance operational efficiency, scale effectively, and maximize the value of their IT investments.
Nick has successfully led global teams in delivering large-scale digital transformation programs, encompassing ERP implementations, CRM solutions, and AI-driven automation. His unique ability to blend technological innovation with commercial strategy has resulted in significant operational improvements and revenue growth for the organizations he has supported.
Passionate about leveraging technology to drive business success, Nick is dedicated to helping companies innovate, scale, and outperform competitors in an ever-evolving digital landscape.
Non-Executive Director
Andy Dancer is a seasoned technology leader and M&A strategist with a proven track record in acquiring, scaling, and successfully exiting global technology and SaaS businesses. With extensive expertise in technology integration, digital transformation, and strategic leadership, he has played a pivotal role in multiple high-value transactions, guiding companies through growth, investment, and successful exits.
As Chief Technology Officer at Tax Systems plc, Andy led a technology restructuring that directly contributed to £50 million in value creation. Previously, at Kaprica Security, he repositioned the business for investment, securing funding, spinning out a new company, and ultimately facilitating a high-profile acquisition by Samsung.
Andy has led buy-side acquisitions such as his private investment initiative in Reliance ACSN, a cybersecurity firm, where he developed the acquisition strategy, identified targets, and transitioned into a non-executive leadership role post-purchase. His deep understanding of scaling SaaS platforms, cybersecurity, fintech, and enterprise technology has made him a sought-after advisor for high-growth technology businesses.
Beyond M&A, Andy specializes in preparing businesses for investment, scaling, and exit, delivering value at all phases of the funding cycle—from Angel, HNW, and Family Office investments to VC and PE-backed transactions. His ability to align technical vision with commercial strategy ensures organizations maximize investor returns, optimize recurring revenue, and drive long-term value creation.
A former GB Canoe Slalom paddler and referee, Andy applies the same discipline, strategic execution, and risk management from elite sports to the business world, helping organizations outperform competitors, execute M&A-driven expansion, and deliver exceptional investor outcomes.
Non-Executive Director
Stuart Pepper is a seasoned IT executive with over 30 years of experience in technology leadership, private equity, and business transformation across accounting, staffing, and healthcare sectors. His expertise lies in IT integration, M&A due diligence, and post-acquisition optimization, ensuring seamless transitions for portfolio companies while driving efficiency and scalability.
Stuart’s career began at KPMG, where he earned key vendor certifications and progressed into senior management roles, overseeing IT strategy for high-profile clients. He later joined BDO Stoy Hayward, expanding his expertise in M&A transactions, IT governance, and technology-led business transformations. He also earned an MSc in Information Technology from The University of Liverpool, balancing academic study with professional responsibilities.
Recognized for his commercial acumen and ability to align IT with corporate strategy, Stuart transitioned to private equity, where he has led technology integrations across multi-million-pound acquisitions. As Chief Technology Officer at Twenty20 Capital, he successfully integrated four newly acquired businesses within six months, demonstrating his ability to execute complex IT transformations efficiently.
Currently, Stuart oversees IT operations across the portfolio, collaborating with senior management to develop and implement IT strategies that drive growth, operational resilience, and shareholder value. His expertise spans buy-side and sell-side due diligence, IT infrastructure optimization, and digital transformation. His work includes partnerships with leading healthcare and staffing businesses, such as HCRG Care Group, Operose Health, Sugarman Health & Wellbeing, and RSS Global.
A trusted strategic advisor, Stuart has a proven track record of delivering high-impact IT solutions that enhance client operations and maximize investment returns. His ability to bridge technology and business strategy ensures scalable, efficient, and future-proof IT frameworks for companies undergoing growth, restructuring, or acquisition.
Founding Director
Jamie Simpson is an experienced entrepreneur, investor, and dealmaker with a strong track record in acquisitions, business scaling, and successful exits. Since his early 20s, he has built, acquired, and exited multiple businesses, holding shareholdings in over 30 companies across various industries. His expertise in buy-and-build strategies has helped drive significant shareholder value, including a successful roll-up in the hair salon sector.
Jamie has been featured in Acquisition Aficionado and Business Leader for his insights into SME acquisitions, private equity, and value creation. As the founder of Aragon Investment Group, he focuses on deal structuring, operational improvements, and growth strategies, helping business owners maximize value through strategic acquisitions and roll-ups.
With a hands-on approach to building scalable and high-performing businesses, Jamie works closely with business owners to implement growth frameworks, improve efficiencies, and position companies for exit. His experience spans multiple industries, giving him a broad perspective on driving long-term value and sustainable business success.
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