N4 Partners appoints Gordon Merrylees to lead launch of new UK startup-focused fund

Glasgow, Thursday, 11 August 2022

N4 Partners (N4) is delighted to announce the appointment of Gordon Merrylees, the former Managing Director of Entrepreneurship for NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Ulster Bank, as the firm readies itself for the launch of a new investment fund targeting entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses based in the UK.

During his 36 years at RBS, Gordon worked with and supported countless entrepreneurs, early-stage startups and high-growth SMEs as he led and, ultimately, accelerated the Bank’s support programme for UK businesses, culminating in the launch of the Bank’s first in-house Entrepreneur Accelerator programme and the subsequent creation of 12 UK-wide accelerator hubs. Under Gordon’s leadership, the UK’s largest free business accelerator network supported over 60,000 entrepreneurs which benefited from over £400m of investment. Despite Gordon’s departure from RBS last year, the programme continues to form a core part of the Bank’s proposition to SMEs today.

N4 has continued to expand both its investment team and advisory offering with the recruitment of key senior hires, including last year’s appointment of the former CEO of Tesco Bank, Benny Higgins, as Chair.

On his appointment as Director at N4, Gordon Merrylees commented: “Throughout my career I’ve always been incredibly passionate about supporting the growth of talented entrepreneurs and startup businesses across the UK. From establishing a leading startup and scaleup accelerator programme at RBS, to my current role with Know-it as Chief Commercial Officer, playing my part to ensure the innovative credit management software firm fulfils its potential as one of the UK’s most innovative fintech startups, I have now experienced first-hand the level of support required for startups and entrepreneurs to be successful and achieve their growth ambitions.

Having known the team at N4 for some time and sharing the same desire and urgency to help early-stage businesses grow and thrive, I’m thrilled to join the firm and look forward to helping the team identify and execute exciting investment opportunities within the talented UK startup community.”

N4 Chair, Benny Higgins, added: “I had the pleasure of working with Gordon for a number of years at RBS and his passion for supporting entrepreneurs and startups throughout the UK is unparalleled. We’re delighted to welcome Gordon on board as we look to launch a venture fund exclusively targeting the UK startup community.”

ENDS.

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