As Senior Investment Director in Octopus, Alan brings over 30 years of experience in marketing, general management and strategic planning to the selection and development of management teams. Prior to founding Katalyst with his colleagues and its subsequent sale to Octopus Investments, he held senior marketing positions in fast moving consumer. goods companies: Sara Lee, Rank Hovis McDougal, Cambridge Nutrition and Great Universal Stores. His experience as a general manager includes Managing Director of Cambridge Nutrition, Dairy Crest and Premier Brands. Alan has also been a Non-Executive Director of Lingarden.. With over twenty five years' experience of investing into early stage companies as a Business Angel and Venture Capitalist, Alan is sector agnostic preferring to primarily invest in business that are led by outstanding entrepreneurs who have a clear vision, creativity, energy and commitment to building large businesses at full pace. As an Octopus Board Observer Alan has worked with the senior management teams in LoveFilm, Zoopla, Secret Escapes and Vyre amongst many others. Currently he sits on the Boards of LifeBook, Coal Restaurants and Artesian Solutions.. Alan holds a B.A.(Hons) in Economics (Liverpool University) and a PhD in Business Administration (University of Manchester).
