ABOUT US
For decades our exceptional capabilities have helped our clients in the education, technology and health industries rapidly develop their operations.
How we drive value:
Help companies implement competitive and forward looking strategic plans by leveraging the financial and operational experience across our organisation and within our highly experienced network
Take active leadership positions including, interim CEO or non-Executive/Independent Board Member roles to directly influence strategy and drive value creation
Incubate or directly invest in fast growing companies that share our values of helping people improve their lives through education and the development of the skills required to lead physically and mentally healthy lives
OUR TEAM
Utilizing an intelligent combination of our Management Team and our proven network of external Partners, we provide the expertise required to meet our clients and invested company’s business objectives. Our teams are located conveniently to cover our Greater Asia, Middle-East and USA operations.
Paul Blackstone
Partner and CEO
Paul works with clients and invested companies on local and international growth strategies, cross border expansion, organizational effectiveness, customer acquisition and retention strategies, mergers & acquisitions and business performance assessment and improvement planning.
Paul’s investment and leadership experience spans China, Greater Asia, Europe, Australia and North and South America and he is a well known education expert having been the CEO of Pearson Asia’s largest operation (WSE) for over 8 years. He left after leading a successful exit to a consortium of private equity acquirers in 2018. Outside of SummitLearn, Paul founded one of the first online English language learning companies (channelEnglish) and a highly innovative integrated health services company (Remedy). He is currently on the Board of Yola (Vietnam), CURIOO Limited (Hong Kong) and Strategic Advisor to International School of Digital Futures (Sydney).
Paul is based in Sydney.
Catherine Wang
Partner and China/USA Managing Director
Catherine leads our China operations and has an exceptional track record of accelerating the strategic development of global brands. She works closely with our portfolio companies to develop highly effective and measurable brand awareness, lead generation and sales activities that generate high ROI.
Having been the Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales of well-known and large multi-national organisations operating in China, including Pfizer and Avon, she has unique insights into the development of marketing and sales strategies across all digital and offline channels.
With the ability to navigate across all current and emerging digital media platforms globally, she leverages her extensive operating experience and network to actively support the rapid growth of our portfolio companies.
Catherine is based in Shenzhen (China) and Los Angeles (USA).
Richard Giddings
Partner and ASEAN/EMEA Managing Director
Richard heads up our rapidly expanding international network and has more than 25 years of successful leadership and consulting experience.
With senior leadership and business development roles in China, Greater Asia and the Middle-East, Richard has led and provided consultancy services to some of the largest and fastest growing K-12 and English language training companies in the world including British International Schools, EtonKids, Language Link and Wall Street English.
Richard approaches our operations from a customer-centric perspective and builds an organisational culture that is dedicated to customer success.
Richard is based in Kuala Lumpur.