Our team

John East, Chief Executive

After serving articles with a large firm of City solicitors, John East changed careers and became a member of the London Stock Exchange in 1974 with Panmure Gordon & Co. He established the stockbroking firm of Kent, East, Newton & Co in 1977 before merging the firm with and becoming senior partner of Margetts and Addenbrooke, one of the oldest firms in the country with a long history of advising smaller public companies. During this period Margetts and Addenbrooke played an active role in the development of the Unlisted Securities Market, the first UK market for young and growing companies. Following the sale of the firm, he joined what is now John East & Partners in 1987 and led the management buyout in 1992. He was a founder member of the executive committee of CISCO, the City group which champions smaller companies and was instrumental in pressing for the establishment of AIM. He is a Fellow of the Securities Institute.

David Worlidge, Managing Director

After graduating from Cambridge University with an engineering degree, David Worlidge joined Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co in 1978. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1981 and after spending three and a half years in the Sydney office, he joined the then parent company of what is now John East & Partners in 1988 as M&A manager. In 1989 he formally transferred to John East & Partners, becoming a member of the management buyout team in 1992. He is a Member of the Securities Institute.

Jeffrey Coburn, Director

A former fund manager and head of corporate finance at a number of well established houses, Jeffrey Coburn's long career has spanned the development of small to medium companies' markets over the last 20 years, during which time he played a significant role in the development of the Unlisted Securities Market. He joined John East & Partners in 1991 and is a Member of the Securities Institute.

Johnny Townsend, Director

Johnny Townsend began his career in the City with Laing and Cruickshank in 1969, becoming a partner in 1972. He joined de Zoete and Bevan in 1973 as a partner and became a managing director of BZW in 1980, following the acquisition of the firm by Barclays Bank. He left to join Kleinwort Benson, where he was director in charge of business development in 1990, until joining ABN Amro Hoare Govett Corporate Finance Limited, where he was vice chairman from 1993 to 1998. He joined John East & Partners in 2003 and is responsible for institutional distribution.

Simon Clements, Director

Simon Clements graduated from Hull University with a degree in Accounting in 1994 and qualified as a chartered accountant with Horwath Clark Whitehill in 1998, where he worked in the corporate finance department. He joined John East & Partners in 2000 and has been involved in and led a significant number of new issues, reverse takeovers and acquisitions and disposals. He is a Member of the Securities Institute.

Bidhi Bhoma, Assistant Director

Bidhi Bhoma is a graduate of The University of Birmingham and qualified as a solicitor with international law firm Denton Wilde Sapte in 2001, where he specialised in corporate finance and M&A. He has significant public transaction experience, especially in relation to IPOs and equity issues and has also advised on joint ventures, investments and corporate re-organisations. He joined John East & Partners in 2005 and is a Member of the Securities Institute.

Virginia Bull, Executive

Virginia Bull graduated from Liverpool University with a degree in Mathematics. She joined John East & Partners in 2004 and is an Associate Member of the Securities Institute.