Northern Gritstone, the investment company scaling early-stage life sciences and technology companies in the North of England chaired by Lord Jim O’Neill, has promoted Simon Braham to chief investment officer.
Braham joined Northern Gritstone in September 2025 to drive the growth of its portfolio companies in the newly created role of head of portfolio. In his new role as chief investment officer, he will oversee all of the company’s investment activities.
Based in Manchester, Braham is an experienced venture capital and private equity investor. He joined Northern Gritstone from Bridges where he led its sustainable growth funds in the North.
Since Northern Gritstone began investing in May 2022, its team has reviewed more than 1,500 opportunities, leading to investments in 52 cutting-edge companies in the North based on “world-leading science.” With a balance sheet of £383 million and set to increase, the company continues to originate opportunities and drive value in its growing portfolio of companies that are ‘rooted in the North but global in mindset’. These include spinouts from the universities of Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield (collectively known as the ‘Northern Arc’).
Northern Gritstone has also continued to build out its investment team elsewhere – James Bellis has joined in the newly created role of portfolio director. Based in Manchester, he joins from the global advisory firm Teneo, where he advised companies, investors and management teams through strategic and value creation situations. Narjeet Singh has also joined as investment manager, having moved to Manchester from his London role in Lincoln International’s technology M&A team.
Braham said: “I’m delighted to be appointed as Northern Gritstone’s new chief investment officer. In my previous role as head of portfolio I have seen first hand the power of Northern Gritstone’s investment model not just to create the world leading businesses of tomorrow but the fundamental impact that this success can have on the local, regional and national economies in which we operate.”
Duncan Johnson, CEO of Northern Gritstone, added: “Simon has made a positive impact on Northern Gritstone in the past year. His appointment supports our profit with purpose investment philosophy and our firm belief that the UK’s first trillion-dollar company will be based on the science and technology that comes from academic research in our leading universities based in the UK Technology Diamond.”
