Adrian Beecroft
Adrian Beecroft has a degree in physics from Queen's College, Oxford. Following graduation in 1968, he worked for ICL in the computer industry for five years. In 1974 he went as a Harkness Fellow to the Harvard Business School, graduating in 1976. He then joined the Boston Consulting Group in London. He became a Vice President of BCG Worldwide in 1982.
Adrian joined Apax in 1984 when it had £10m under management. He helped indentify and evaluate opportunities, and negotiate and close investments in promising early-stage, high tech businesses.
As Apax grew, Adrian assumed responsibility for the London office and approval of all investments. He played a major part in the international expansion of the business, which now has over $20 billion under management with over 150 professionals in eight countries. Until recently Adrian was the company's chief investment officer. He was Chairman of the British Venture Capital Association in 1991/92 and has represented Apax on the boards of over 20 private and public companies.
Adrian is a sponsor of the Beecroft Institute of Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology at Oxford University. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Physics. He is a trustee of Impetus Trust, a charity focused on venture philanthropy.