Sir Terry Leahy-backed tech startup investment and development company Nova has hired Jeremy Westhead as group CFO.
In the newly created position, Westhead will take responsibility for building out the finance function and raising further capital into Nova’s portfolio of tech startups.
Westhead joins from Horizon Capital where he was finance director, and has 15 years’ experience of fund management.
He said: “I’m thrilled to have joined at such an exciting phase for the group of businesses, I believe there’s a great opportunity here to remove some of the growth blockers they’ve experienced. I’ve long believed that it’s critically important to reduce risk for early stage startups. I really like Nova’s business model and how it facilitates this and it’s something that I believe I can add further value to.”
Liverpool-based Nova has built a startup portfolio of over 40 early stage tech businesses, including a Dungeons & Dragons inventory app, a foetal monitoring wearable for expectant mums and a hand hygiene monitoring system for hospitals.
It recently ran its first startup programme in South East Asia.
Nova CEO Andy Davidson added: “In what’s set to be another unpredictable year for the startup finance and investment markets. The experience that Jeremy brings is sure to put our businesses in the best position to achieve the growth that they’re capable of. He has great ambition and plans for the role and is keen to add further value to the startups and founders that we work with.”
