Scottish Enterprise (SE) has announced a big investment team leadership change with Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment Kerry Sharp moving to a new position as Scottish Enterprise’s first Chief Finance and Investment Officer.
Derek Shaw will be the new Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment. Shaw was previously Head of Investment and more recently SE’s Director of Scaling Innovation.
Derek Shaw
Sharp wrote in a blog: “I’m looking forward to bringing an investment and commercial mindset and focus to our traditional Chief Financial Officer role where I’ll lead on our organisational finances, strategy and performance, alongside our commitment to access new capital to support our ambitions for the economy.
“We know that investment is critical to delivering growth and higher productivity, leading to better wages and a more resilient economy – whether it’s into our companies, projects, infrastructure, or industrial assets – investment plays a key part in the delivery of all our missions and is critical to Scotland’s economic transformation.
“I will work with colleagues to ensure we are strategically focussing our skills, assets and expertise in the most effective way possible to maximise investment flowing into Scotland.
“Our entrepreneurship and investment activity continues to be fundamental to our ambition to transform Scotland’s economy, and I’m delighted that Derek Shaw will be taking up the reigns as Scottish Enterprise’s new Director of Entrepreneurship and Investment.
“Derek, who was previously Head of Investment and more recently SE’s Director of Scaling Innovation, has a huge amount of experience and market knowledge and his innovative thinking and strong leadership will see our entrepreneurship and investment activity continue to thrive.
“I first joined Scottish Enterpriseto set up the Scottish Venture Fund, one of our core equity co-investment funds which is growing in impact year on year.
“I’ve since led us through a number of innovative initiatives aimed at growing Scotland’s early-stage risk capital market and creating the right environment for ambitious start-ups, spin outs and early-stage scaling companies to achieve their potential – all of that working in partnership across the public and private sectors seeking to achieve more impact with collective effort.
“Scotland’s early-stage market now punches above its weight in a UK context – something I’m proud to have played a part in supporting.
“None of it would have been possible though, without the dedication and hard work of my colleagues in Scottish Enterprise. It’s been an absolute privilege to lead such passionate and highly motivated teams, who are ambitious for Scotland and its companies.
“Whilst I am moving away from leading on our operational activities, I am not going too far and I will continue to work closely with Derek and team and remain engaged in the market as we continue to focus on accelerating economic growth through investment.”