Dr Nigel Pitchford

London-based Downing LLP has reinforced its credentials as a specialist health care and life sciences investor by appointing Dr Nigel Pitchford as head of healthcare ventures.

His appointment signals Downing’s strategic drive to develop a significant specialist healthcare platform to expand its retail funds alongside dedicated institutional offerings.

This move also underlines the group’s commitment to ESG and sustainability.

Dr Pitchford, who has a PhD in chemistry from Durham University, has 25 years of healthcare ventures experience acquired at a range of firms including 3i Group, DFJ Esprit, Imperial Innovations and, most recently, as chief executive of IESO Digital Health.

Downing’s Healthcare Ventures team has deployed over £36 million of venture capital across 20 businesses in the sector.

“We have made the strategic decision to further invest in healthcare ventures, given the strength of the market, increased investor appetite post-pandemic, as well as the social impact element that is inherent in this sector, whether that’s improving patient outcomes or access to healthcare and innovation,” said Dr Kostas Manolis, Downing’s head of private market investments.

“Nigel brings a wealth of additional experience and knowledge to our existing Healthcare Ventures team. He will play a key role as we look to build a significant, specialist healthcare investment platform with the aim of expanding our retail funds alongside bespoke institutional capital.”

Downing also has teams converging renewable energy, development capital, property finance and venture capital as well as healthcare and life sciences.