Pictured above: (l-r) Martin Draper, Managing Director LDC Midlands with Rob Schofield, Investment Director

The Midlands leading private equity provider LDC has further strengthened its Midlands team following the appointment of Robert Schofield as Investment Director with immediate effect.

A corporate financier with more than 15 years of experience including five years in a global investment bank, Mr Schofield brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, including a sector specialism in industrial markets, and in particular, aerospace & defence.

A graduate of Nottingham University, Mr Schofield began his career in 1992 at Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte (later PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Birmingham, where he qualified as a chartered accountant in 1995. 

In 2001, he moved on to join the corporate finance team at Ernst & Young - initially in Birmingham and latterly, in London - where he spent four years in the industrials team, specialising in aerospace and defence deals.

Mr Schofield then joined investment bank Jefferies in 2005, to help develop their fledgling European aerospace and defence practice.  Having completed four transactions in the first four years of its existence, he was instrumental in developing Jefferies' specialist European aerospace and defence operation to accomplish 20 deal completions in five years. During this time, the Jefferies practice became the leading aerospace & defence advisory franchise in Europe.

Mr Schofield was born in Selly Oak and now lives in Knowle. He is married with one daughter and in his spare time he is a keen sportsman, with particular enthusiasm for golf, skiing, tennis and squash.

Martin Draper, Managing Director LDC Midlands said: "Rob's corporate finance and investment banking background will be an ideal complement to the existing skills set within our team. In particular, his proven track record of sourcing and executing high-profile transactions within the aerospace and defence sector across the UK, Europe, North America and Asia, will help to further enhance LDC Midlands' existing commitment to secure investment opportunities with progressive specialist engineering businesses." 

Rob Schofield added: "I am delighted to be joining the highly respected LDC Midlands team who are renowned for their successful backing of top management teams in the regional private equity mid-market. I look forward to contributing to their continued success and to further accelerate investment momentum throughout the remainder of 2011 and into 2012.

"I am also delighted to be returning to my 'home market' after seven years in London, and look forward to being part of the vibrant business and financial community in the Midlands."