Growth capital investor BGF has bolstered its Scotland team with the appointment of a new investor following a strong year of investments and exits in 2024. 

Rory McPherson has joined BGF’s Scotland and Northern Ireland team, bringing with him a wealth of experience and knowledge in Scotland’s M&A landscape. 

Before joining BGF, McPherson was a deal advisory partner with BDO where he led the firm’s Scottish M&A team for more than seven years.

“During his time at BDO, Rory specialised in advising entrepreneurial, mid-market, scaling businesses through the full raft of event driven transactions, from sales and acquisitions through to private equity backed MBOs and fundraisings,” said BGF.

“He also spent 11 years in the banking industry doing leveraged finance, with spells at both Lloyds Banking Group and RBS. Leading RBS’ leveraged finance business in Aberdeen, Rory supported the private equity buyout activity of both UK and international investors. 

“The appointment comes after the Scotland and Northern Ireland team reported strong activity through 2024, with six new deals completed, alongside three successful exits.”

Paddy Graham, regional partner at BGF, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Rory to the team. He brings with him a wealth of experience of the Scottish market and an established network which we are confident will help us to continue BGF’s growth across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

“This appointment demonstrates BGF’s continued commitment to providing Scotland’s most ambitious businesses with the patient capital and strategic support needed to scale.”

McPherson said: “I’m thrilled to be joining BGF, and working with not only the ambitious team in Scotland, but also with an array of interesting and growing businesses.

“At BGF, building long-term relationships and trust with the businesses in the market is a key priority. I believe this approach will enable me to make a meaningful impact by supporting companies across Scotland.

“Personally, I feel like I have also gone full circle. I trained as a chartered accountant with a firm that was based on the same street as BGF, so it feels great to be back where it all started.”