TEAM
GARETH HUGHES
Gareth has a wealth of knowledge on the low carbon economy as well as a network of contacts within the climate change industry, particularly amongst the investor community.
Prior to establishing Beetle in 2008, Gareth was a Founder and Board member of Climate Change Capital ("CCC") where he led the incubation, development of and capital raising of circa $1.75bn for various CCC funds. Prior to CCC, Gareth was a Managing Director of Marsh & McLennan ("MMC"). At MMC, Gareth developed a number of innovative integrated risk finance solutions in the Energy & Power sectors and was also responsible for the development of MMC's European Climate Change initiatives. Prior to MMC, Gareth held executive positions at Johnson & Higgins and Fenchurch.
Gareth has led UK Trade Delegations to China and India, and is a Trustee of the Global Cool Foundation. Gareth helped launch and is on the Board of The Ice Organisation (an enterprise focused on the mass mobilization of consumer purchasing power for the mitigation of climate change).
Gareth has an MA Hons from St Andrews University and was educated at Monkton Combe School.
ALEX MURRAY
Alex has over ten years of experience in the financial services sector, in investment banking, private equity investing and capital raising.
Prior to joining Beetle, Alex was a Vice President in the London office of Bregal Investments, a €3bn private equity funds of funds programme, backed by the Brenninkmeijer family. Alex led the European co-investment activity and was involved in the fund’s investment alongside First Reserve in the $3.6bn acquisition of CHC Helicopter, the largest buyout ever in the oilfield services sector. While at Bregal, Alex was a member of the investment team for approved fund commitments totalling €240m.
Alex also spent five years in the private equity team at Hawkpoint, a leading mid-market corporate finance advisor. Alex managed the execution of sell-side transactions totalling over £500m on behalf of sponsors and co-ordinated the firm’s private equity relationships, developing the pipeline of buyside opportunities for clients. Previously he was a consultant to the boards of leading UK media companies.
Alex has an MA in Classics from New College, Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD. Alex also founded and runs the INSEAD Energy Network.
RUPERT NEWLAND
Rupert has a deep knowledge of natural capital investment themes gained throughout both his commercial and educational experience.
Rupert is an associate at Beetle, and has worked on corporate finance, placement and advisory deals across a broad range of sectors including sustainable forestry, wind, solar, biomass and carbon, both in developed economies and emerging markets. Rupert is experienced in due diligence, preparing marketing materials and client management.
Rupert leads the research side at Beetle, and recently published a market study on the European biomass sector reviewing the emerging supply constraints driven by regulatory changes and emerging business models.
Prior to this, Rupert joined Beetle in 2009 as a research analyst, undertaking market research into natural capital investment themes, including the built environment, metals and mining and the smart grid.
Rupert received a BA (hons) in Architecture from the University of Sheffield, where he specialised in sustainable architecture and designing low carbon buildings.
JOSEPH PORTERFIELD
Joseph has 17 years experience advising institutional investors on alternative investment strategies and is involved in placements at Beetle Capital Partners.
Prior to joining Beetle, Joseph was a Partner at Axon Partners and previous to this was a Partner at Probitas Partners, both of which are independent advisor/placement agents. Joseph was a senior member of each team, leading origination and distribution of funds in Europe and the Gulf. During this period, Joseph acted on over 15 private equity fund raising projects that closed on €7.25bn in capital. Joseph has additionally been active in originating and conducting diligence on alternative funds for purposes of investment and capital raising mandates.
Joseph was also a Director and board member for AIG’s investment management organization in the UK and has helped establish and build a number of start-up financial service firms and groups.
Joseph holds a BS in Finance from the University of Maryland, a Diploma from the Institut d’ Études Politiques de Paris and an MBA from the University of Chicago.