Jon Coker appointed MMC Ventures Co-Managing Partner
Congratulations to Jon Coker, who has been appointed to Managing Partner here at MMC Ventures. The appointment follows a very successful nine years with MMC, during which he has been instrumental in developing MMC’s investment strategy and guiding portfolio companies to successful exits.
In his new role, Jon will co-manage the firm alongside Founder and Managing Partner Bruce Macfarlane. The MMC team continues to develop and grow with the appointment of David Kelnar as Investment Director and Head of Research. David joins the firm after seven years of entrepreneurial leadership as a founding member of two high growth consumer technology firms. Previously, David held senior roles in Software Research at Goldman Sachs and Calypso Capital.
We look forward to the experience and insight David will bring to the team, as well as Jon’s continued role in developing and growing MMC Ventures.
For more news on appointments and new hires, see below.
MMC Ventures, the award-winning venture fund, has announced significant senior appointments following last year’s success that saw MMC invest £21m in 15 companies and make two successful exits – one of which delivered a 9x return.
MMC has seen a period of sustained growth for the early-stage investor. 2015 was the Firm’s strongest year of investments to date, while MMC successfully exited two businesses including the sale of Total Mobile, reinforcing MMC’s reputation as one of the most active venture capital investors in the UK.
Jon Coker, an MMC team member for nine years, has been appointed Managing Partner to share the responsibility of the day-to-day running of the business with Founder and Managing Partner Bruce Macfarlane. Since joining MMC in 2007 from JP Morgan, Jon has been influential in a number of successful investments, with the successful exit of Total Mobile the most recent. Jon also sits on the board of a number of high profile MMC portfolio businesses including SafeGuard, Gousto and CloudSense and was nominated for Investor of the Year at 2015’s Investor Allstar Awards.
MMC has also enlisted the talents of David Kelnar as its Investment Director and Head of Research. David has seven years of entrepreneurial leadership experience, having twice been the founding CEO or CFO of award-winning, high growth consumer technology companies, and serves as an advisor to several early stage companies. Previously, David co-managed European software research at Goldman Sachs in London, and at New York hedge fund Calypso Capital. At MMC, David will lead the Firm’s research team to deliver exceptional returns through a deep understanding of the technologies and markets in which MMC invests.
In addition, Dan Bailey and Margaret Perchik have joined the investment team as Associates, where they will research, source and execute deals. Dan spent two years as an Analyst in the UK Corporate Finance Team at Deutsche Bank. Margaret has been promoted from the role of Financial Analyst having joined MMC in 2013. Furthermore, Cameron Grant has joined as an Analyst.
Bruce Macfarlane, Managing Partner at MMC Ventures, said: “I could not be more proud of the growth of MMC Ventures, as reflected in our impressive 2015 and this latest round of promotions and appointments. The portfolio holds a great deal of promise and our deal-flow continues to offer compelling opportunities. I am especially pleased to welcome Jon as my co-Managing Partner – I’m really looking forward to sharing with him the day-to-day management of the Firm and executing together our strategy for long term success.”
Jon Coker, Co-Managing Partner at MMC Ventures, said: “I am delighted to join Bruce as Managing Partner at MMC. Bruce has been a mentor to me over the last nine years and I am honoured now to work alongside him as we propel MMC to its next stage of growth. The founders of MMC have established a culture of opportunity and development from which I have benefited greatly, and I look forward to extending that culture as we expand our team.”
He said of David’s appointment “At MMC, we believe that a deep understanding of the technologies and markets in which we invest is core to our decision-making and to supporting the companies in which we invest. I am very excited to welcome David Kelnar to the team to formalise and lead this effort.”
David Kelnar, Investment Director and Head of Research at MMC Ventures, said: “I’m passionate about early stage companies and investing in the leaders of tomorrow. I have been extremely impressed by the integrity, expertise and ambition of the team at MMC, together with the exceptional returns and momentum they have demonstrated. The Firm’s commitment to a deep understanding of the technologies and markets in which it invests mirrors my own. I relish the opportunity to lead MMC’s research, to catalyse the Firm’s next stage of growth and deliver exceptional returns.”
