Launched in Liverpool late last year by five leading North West investment professionals, Arete has now announced additions to its team

Liverpool private capital firm Arete has unveiled several key appointments to its growing team.

Andy Critchley and Mike Anslow are the company’s first two senior hires of 2021 The news comes in a week when the company also became a new backer of Manchester-based tech pioneers, Peak AI.

Mr Critchley will join the Arete team, which was launched late last year, as a senior investment manager. His 20-year career has seen him work with financial and insurance sector giants including PwC, and the FTSE 100 insurance PLC, RSA.

His most recent investment roles have seen him overseeing the deployment of funds at MSIF and the Development Bank of Wales. In his new role, he’ll be integral to Arete’s deal origination, investment appraisal, structuring, and deal execution.

In addition, Mike Anslow will become Arete’s head of operations and risk. In a career spanning 25 years, Anslow has held senior positions within several global brands including American Express, MBNA, and British Airways.

Most recently he held key strategic roles within M&S, helping the organisation to renegotiation with M&S Retail and leading the project to build out the firm’s branch network. In his new role at Arete, he’ll be responsible for making sure deals meet all regulatory requirements.

Joint Managing Partner, Simon Lord, said: “2021 is already shaping up to be a big year for Arete having already struck an important investment deal with Peak AI in the last week.

“In welcoming Andy and Mike to the Arete team too, we’ve bolstered our expertise and collective experience so that we’re even better placed to deliver on our mission to provide transformational capital to some of the region’s most ambitious entrepreneurs and companies.”

In addition to these two senior hires, Arete has also hired Analyst Joe Cohen who has experience in multi-strategy fund management and spent time at Acropolis Capital in London. His remit will be to work with the senior team to identify and analyse new investment opportunities.