Former EY Managing Partner Secures New Role

A former EY managing partner has joined the Co Angel Investment service.

Barry Flynn, the former managing partner of EY’s Liverpool office who has spent 36 years with the accountancy firm including 21 as partner, will work with the team to leverage investment from syndicates of angel investors into ambitious and growing businesses in Greater Manchester leading in particular on major corporate and institutional relationships.

The Co Angel Investment service is supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and managed by Business Finance Solutions.

Flynn’s appointment comes as the number of high-net-worth private investors working within the Co Angel Investment service to invest in Greater Manchester businesses passed 100.

Paul Breen, director of Business Finance Solutions, said: “Barry has unrivalled experience and expertise in working with investors and start-up businesses and we are privileged to welcome him to the BFS team.

“As we take the Co investment schedule to the next stage and into its second year with over 100 private investors onboard we will continue to identify the best and brightest early-stage businesses that the region has to offer and to match them with investment teams that can support their drive and ambition.”

Flynn said: “Joining the BFS team really fulfills my long-held ambition to develop my career-long experience of supporting hundreds of companies across many industries, all stages of development, and at all points on the success spectrum with expert advice and help in areas including investment appraisal, due diligence, deal structuring and post investment support.

“The Co programme has already leveraged a remarkable amount of support for GM businesses and to have a significant investor base to work with is an enormously exciting challenge for the future.”