John McElroy

Partner

John commenced his corporate finance career at SG Warburg in London in 1988 having previously qualified as a chartered accountant with KPMG. At SG Warburg (later UBS), John advised on a wide range of public and private M&A and capital markets transactions across Europe and North America, including spending 8 years in the New York office of what had now become UBS Investment Bank.

In 2003 he relocated back to the UK and founded a new business within UBS Wealth Management providing corporate finance advice to clients of the private bank.

John joined Opus in 2008.

He has a BSc (Economics) degree from University College London and is a member of the ICAEW.

Nigel McNelly

Partner

Nigel has been a partner at Opus since its inception in 2006. Nigel has clients across a broad range of sectors and specialises in advice to family and trust owned businesses. Areas of particular sector focus include events and event services, specialist property (including affordable housing and related services) and B2B consulting and business services.

Recent assignments have included advice to a large family owned brewer on succession issues and the trustees of a multi-generational  family trust in the property sector in relation to trust diversification requirements.

In addition, Nigel led the Opus team advising on the sale of the events services business Peppermint Bars to Conviviality. Other recent transactions include the investment by Related Companies in Pocket Living and Hearst Publishing in Mediablaze.

Nigel joined SG Warburg in 1983 and in 1997 was recruited as Head of Corporate Finance at Enskilda Securities in London. Nigel has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University and is a member of ICAEW.

Richard Morse

Partner

Richard has been a partner at Opus since 2011. Richard is primarily focused on the energy and infrastructure sectors, and has a particular expertise in M&A, project finance and fund-raising for energy technology companies.  Recent assignments have included advice to a renewable energy project developer, raising funds for a new power station, and also advice to an electricity storage technology development company on successive fund-raisings.

As well as his work with Opus, Richard is on the Boards of John Laing Environmental Assets Group Limited (JLEN), Bazalgette Tunnel Limited, Woodard Corporation and The Grange Festival.

Richard joined Kleinwort Benson in 1981 whence he was seconded to be Deputy Director General of OFGEM from 1999-2001.  Following a brief stint as head of Utilities and Infrastructure for Europe at Goldman Sachs, he led the energy and infrastructure team at Greenhill & Co.  He was educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford (classics).  He is an honorary fellow of Ripon College, Cuddesdon.

Angus Russell

Partner

Angus joined Opus in 2017.  Angus has worked with clients across a range of industries in the UK and internationally.  Areas of particular focus are software, IT services, outsourcing services (white and blue collar), distribution.

Companies he has advised on significant transactions include Balfour Beatty, Bertelsmann, Cable & Wireless, Capita, France Telecom, Galliford Try, iSOFT, Mears, Spirent.

Angus joined Kleinwort Benson in 1992 and in 2003 moved to Gleacher Shacklock LLP (an independent corporate advisory business) where he was a partner.  Angus has a degree in Economics from Cambridge University.

Stuart Schofield

Partner

Stuart joined Opus in 2008 and has clients across a broad range of sectors. Areas of particular sector focus include renewable energy and sustainability, industrials and business services.

Recent transaction experience includes advising Estover Energy to fund its three biomass CHP power stations; advising Kebony on raising equity growth capital to construct its second wood conversion plant; and advising electricity storage technology company Highview on successive fund-raisings. Other recent transactions include the investments by Related in Pocket Living and Hearst Publishing in Mediablaze.

Stuart started his investment banking career at UBS in 2004, working in the UK Investment Banking team and then an M&A team within the Wealth Management business. He has a degree in Chinese from Durham University.

Garth Shephard

Partner

Garth has been a partner at Opus since its inception in 2006. Through this career, Garth has focused on the technology, media and communications sector. 

Garth has recently completed multiple fundraisings for insurethebox, advised management shareholders of insurethebox in the sale to Aioi Nissay Dowa, raised growth capital for Limelight Sports from DC Thomson Ventures and advised the shareholders of MyPolicy in the buyout by Inflexion Private Equity.

Garth has previously worked at Coopers & Lybrand (now PwC), Schroder Salomon Smith Barney and Andersen Corporate Finance. Garth has a degree in Economics from Leeds University.

Mark Speller

Partner

Mark joined SG Warburg in 1988, where he gained invaluable experience of public offer, private company acquisition, disposal and fund-raising work. Prior to this he had worked with Price Waterhouse in London and Milan.

In 1991 he joined Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte's corporate finance practice and was admitted to the partnership in 1995. He founded the Financial Services sector team in 1997, which expanded significantly on the formation of PwC. Mark left that team in 2009 to take up the role of Co-head, Corporate Finance, Middle East on the back of PwC UK’s strategic alliance with its regional firm.

Mark joined Opus in 2012. He has deep experience of the Lloyd’s broking market as well as the insurance and investment funds servicing sector.

Mark has a degree in Philosophy, Politics & Economics from Oxford University and is a member of the ICAEW.

Malcolm Strang

Partner

Malcolm joined Hill Samuel Corporate Finance in 1985 having previously qualified (ICAEW) at Price Waterhouse. After spending nine years advising on a wide range of transactions he joined Credit Suisse, where he was a Senior Director focused on cross-border and UK M&A and public company transactions.

In 2000, he became CFO of a venture development company seeking a London listing. Following the collapse of the stock market and the cancellation of the IPO, he joined KPMG Corporate Finance as a Partner where he focused on public company transactions, UK M&A and private equity transactions, before joining Oriel Securities in 2005.

Malcolm joined Matrix Investment Banking in 2010 as joint Head of Corporate Finance, with a particular focus on the business services, consumer and TMT sectors.

Malcolm joined Opus in 2011.

Craig Hassall

Associate

Craig joined Opus in 2017 as an Associate. He has worked on a number of transactions advising private equity, public, and private company clients across a range of sectors. Key sectors include private equity, real estate, and distribution.

Prior to Opus, Craig worked in the New Zealand PwC Corporate Finance team for nearly four years. He has passed all the CFA exams and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Economics) and Bachelor of Property degree from the University of Auckland.

Finn O'Driscoll

Associate

Finn is an Associate at Opus, having joined the firm in 2014. In this time, Finn has gained advisory and transactional experience across a range of sectors including Business Services, Financial Services, Property and Consumer & Leisure.

Recent transactional experience includes advising TRGI on its public company acquisitions of Ibex Global Solutions and Digital Globe Services, PDG Helicopters’ sale to management backed by LDC, Crawford & Company’s acquisition of GAB Robins and Willis’ sale of RH Specialist Insurance to Hiscox. Non-transactional assignments include providing advice to the trustees of a multi-generational family trust in the property sector in relation to trust diversification requirements.

Prior to Opus, Finn worked at BDO LLP, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Finn has a BSc degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and is a member of the ICAEW.

Joseph Roberts

Analyst

Joe has been an analyst at Opus since 2016.  In this time, Joe has gained advisory and transactional experience across a range of sectors including Financial Services, Renewables, Pharmaceuticals and Construction Materials.

Joe joined Opus after spending four years at KPMG, where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and worked in the Deal Advisory and Forensic Accounting teams. Joe has a degree in Classics from the University of Bristol and is a member of the ICAEW.

Izabela Zielinska

Office Manager

Izabela Zielinska is an Office Manager at Opus Corporate Finance with experience in marketing and administration.

Her previous positions include Administrator at Vinopolis, the London wine-tasting and events venue; four years in the communications division of the British Red Cross, specialising in marketing and brand development; and providing support to the Chief Operating Officer at Jardine Lloyd Thomson Group.

Izabela holds a certificate in Marketing accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing.