YFM Equity Partners has announced the appointment of Oliver McRae as investment director to strengthen its regional dealmaking team in Leeds.
McRae, who brings more than 15 years of private equity, corporate development and advisory experience, joins from Traditum Private Equity. At Traditum, he led the origination, execution and management of investments in small-cap businesses across healthcare, consumer, industrials and technology.
McRae previously held senior roles at Isara Capital and Eight Fifty Food Group, following earlier positions at Deloitte and KPMG. During his time at Eight Fifty, he led mergers and acquisitions activity across acquisitions, integration and exit planning.
In his new role, McRae will focus on identifying lower mid-market investment opportunities and working with management teams across Yorkshire and the wider north.
The appointment comes as YFM continues deploying capital from its active private equity buyout funds and venture capital trusts, targeting growth equity and buyout deals for regional small-cap businesses.
Neil Inskip, partner and head of new investments in the north at YFM, said: “The north continues to be one of the most exciting regions in the UK for investment and McRae is a strong addition to our Leeds team. He has a deep understanding of the regional market and what management teams need from an investment partner.
“His breadth of experience will be valuable as we support those teams to deliver their growth plans and continue investing across Yorkshire and the wider north.”
McRae added: “YFM has built an excellent reputation for backing ambitious, growing businesses through a genuinely relationship-led approach. I was particularly impressed by YFM’s supportive culture, long-term perspective and strong investment track record. All of this is underpinned by its deep regional roots and entrepreneurial approach to investing.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to work with entrepreneurs, management teams and advisers to support businesses across Yorkshire and the north through critical stages of their growth and development.”
