Earth Capital picks new CEO amid raft of senior appointments

• Elise Hockley is promoted from head of communications to COO and head of investor relations
• The two will lead the firm’s investment activities
• Earth Capital co-founder Gordon Power becomes chairman

Earth Capital announced the appointment of a new CEO and COO amid a raft of hires and promotions at the firm.

Avent Bezuidenhoudt, formerly head of investment, will lead the firm as CEO. Elise Hockley, formerly head of communications at the firm, has been promoted to COO and head of investor relations. Together Bezuidenhoudt, an ex-senior fund manager with the FSE Group, and Hockley, who previously worked for KKR, will lead the firm’s investment activities.

“It’s a pleasure and an honour to be given the opportunity to lead the ECL team into the next stage of the business’ growth,” said Bezuidenhoudt. “With the support of our co-founders Stephen Lansdown CBE and Gordon Power, and the rest of the ECL team, I look forward to continuing to make great investments that have a real positive impact on the world we live in and hope to protect.”

Co-founder Gordon Power becomes chairman. Elsewhere, Bradly Jones was appointed senior investment manager and will lead on deal origination and value creation. Kay Nelson, also ex-KKR, joins the firm as financial controller.

London-based Earth Capital invests in cleantech companies that look to address the challenges of climate change across the energy, food and water sectors.