Colin is Chief Executive and founder of Crescent Capital NI Limited. He has been an active venture capital investor in Northern Ireland companies for over 20 years. An International MBA by background, he spent six years with Top Technology, part of Hambros plc, between 1988 and 1994. In 1995 Colin, sponsored by Hambros, established Hambro Northern Ireland Venture Managers Limited, now known as Crescent Capital.
To date, Crescent has raised three separate venture capital funds totaling £67m and has completed investments in over thirty companies based in Northern Ireland. Having served on the boards of several local companies and been chairman of many, he has first-hand experience of the various challenges facing the business sector within Northern Ireland. Colin’s efforts in this area earned him an MBE in the 2019 Queens Honours list.
Colin is on numerous boards of local Irish companies from IT to food production including Finnebrogue, Analytics Engines, Fusion Antibodies and Acheson & Glover. He is a Non Executive Director and Chairman of Replify’s board. He brings a wealth and a breadth of experience to Replify and always approaches discussions with a very analytical mind.
Outside of work commitments, Colin can often be seen in Majorca sipping wine near his local marina where he keeps his boat, the Emma Marshall. Colin also is fond of a road trip in Eurpoe on his BMW motorcycle. He also has a keen interest in cars and likes tinkering under the bonnet of one of his many collection of classic and vintage cars.