Eversheds Sutherland’s former IT director Andrew McManus has begun a new role at private equity house Bridgepoint after five and a half years at the international law firm.
He has taken on the role of head of technology and told Legal IT Insider that he will be looking after Bridgepoint’s internal technology as well as providing advice to its portfolio of clients, which include legal tech vendor BigHand.
McManus told us: “I’ve always had an interest in private equity and investment and how the sector invests in companies to make them bigger and better for investors. Technology, in a similar way to the legal sector, is starting to be used for investment decisions and data is just starting to be used.
“Bridgepoint recognise that there is a huge opportunity with data to support investment decisions.”
He added: “My experience of the legal sector is relevant because of my experience of working in a partnership. Bridgepoint has a set of clients and portfolio companies and the partner here will be close to those companies and have an interest in them doing well. In law firms, the partners are also close to the clients and have a vested interest in how they are performing.”
McManus, who will be based in London, says that one of his more immediate priorities is to develop the technology team. “People internally have a good relationship with the business users but there is work to do to create the right structure,” he said. “We have 12 offices around the world and a very mobile workforce. The focus will be on flexibility of working and the ability to access data in a safe way in order to make decisions.”
At Eversheds McManus’ role had morphed from a general IT role to looking at client-facing technology, with Will Jenkins taking over the IT director role. McManus was headhunted for the new role.
Jenkins will cover both roles while Eversheds looks for a replacement and in a statement managing partner Keith Froud said: “Andrew played a significant role in leading our client technology and innovation programmes and leaves us in a strong position as we continue to develop these important areas. We have reshaped this role and are currently recruiting for the next stage of our client tech and innovation activity. In the interim, Will Jenkins, Director of IT will lead these busy teams. We wish Andrew well in his new role at Bridgepoint.”
