Crowdcube announce new finance chief
Bill Simmons has been appointed Chief Finance Officer (CFO) by leading equity crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube in the first of a number of strategic, senior level appointments made by the firm. Bill, who formerly held senior financial roles at groundbreaking online, digital and technology organisations, Ask.com, Myspace and Rated People, has been involved in a number of start-up and early stage businesses.
Joining the business late last year, Bill will focus on managing growth and ensuring money recently raised by the company in its own funding round (£3.8m via Balderton Capital and £1.2 on Crowdcube’s own platform) is invested in the right places.
“Crowdcube is an incredibly dynamic environment, which has doubled in size in recent months,” Bill Simmons explains. “Having worked at a number of start-ups and high growth businesses, I know that managing such rapid growth is one of the most challenging but exciting parts of the job. But mostly I enjoy working for companies that look to challenge the status quo and shake up established ideas.”
A chartered management accountant by trade, Bill started out as Head of Financial Planning & Analysis at Ask.com and then moved to Myspace as head of the international financial department, before becoming the CFO for Rated People, a service that provides a rating for tradesmen in the UK. Most recently he has been CFO at start-ups Motilo.com and Luxup, as well as holding advisory and non-executive roles at eeGeo and the Wild Beer Co.
Luke Lang, co-founder at Crowdcube, adds: “Bill is a real asset to have on board and is one of a number of senior and very talented individuals to join us recently and help grow the executive team. He’s passionate about start-ups and his experience working with similar fast growth companies and helping manage that growth effectively will be particularly important as we continue to expand our operations here in Exeter, London, Scotland and overseas.”
Bill is based at Crowdcube’s headquarters in Exeter, Devon.
