Catapult Ventures appoints Chris Spencer as Venture Partner

Catapult Ventures has announced that Chris Spencer has been appointed as a Venture Partner with its GM&C Life Sciences Fund. Chris Spencer, who becomes the Fund’s fourth Venture Partner, will assess investment opportunities and work with the Fund’s smaller investments to help companies successfully grow, with a particular focus on digital health.

Speaking on the new appointment, Catapult CEO, Nick Wright said: “I am delighted to welcome Chris to Catapult as a Venture Partner specialising in digital health. Chris has been working with Catapult as our Digital Health Advisor for several months and his insights were invaluable during our investment in Gendius in September this year. Digital convergence in healthcare is an area Catapult is particularly excited about and having someone of Chris’s calibre in the team will help us make even better, more informed investment decisions.”

Commenting on his new appointment, Chris Spencer said: “I am delighted to be expanding my role with Catapult Ventures and the GM&C Life Sciences Fund helping to advance not only digital health generally but also with a particular link to the North of England.”

Chris was until recently CEO of EMIS Group plc. He has nearly 40 years’ experience of general management, leadership, law and software/digital development within the healthcare, legal and educational sectors, both as a founder of his own companies and a senior manager in established companies. In software/digital he has engaged across the whole spectrum including: specification, design, development, project management, marketing, sales, implementation and support. His roles at EMIS Group since joining in 1999 included Commercial Development Director, Group Legal Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer and since 2013, CEO.

The GM&C Life Sciences Fund is a specialist seed and early stage venture capital fund targeting life sciences businesses with a presence in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire & Warrington region. The Fund was launched with a first close of around £31m in October 2015 and has invested in 16 companies to date, with a number of deals in progress. It is actively seeking high-potential innovative life sciences companies in which to invest.