LDC bolsters East Midlands and East of England team with new appointment

LDC, the leading private equity investor, has appointed Alistair Smith as an Investment Manager to further strengthen its support for businesses across the East Midlands and East of England.

Alistair, who is based in Cambridge, brings more than a decade of experience in corporate finance. He joins LDC from Pearson, where he was a Senior Manager in the Corporate Development & Group Strategy team, focusing on M&A in the education sector. Prior to this, he spent six years at PwC in its transactions team, specialising in financial due diligence and vendor assistance.

In his new role, Alistair will be responsible for identifying potential investment opportunities across the East Midlands and East of England and supporting the management teams of LDC’s portfolio businesses as they pursue their growth ambitions.

Alistair’s arrival follows the recent appointment of Investment Executive Lucy Lagrosse in Nottingham and comes during a busy period for LDC in the region. In February 2026, the firm invested in Lincoln-based Eagle Eye Innovations, a specialist in drone training, operating and consulting services, and in January 2026, supported Mansfield-based TIC and compliance business IDSL Group in acquiring Fire Doors Rite, strengthening IDSL’s position in the UK fire door market.

Over the past 12 months, LDC’s East Midlands and East of England team has completed eight transactions, underlining its position as one of the most active private equity investors in the region. These include its investment in Coalville-based Bespoke Kitchen Foods and its exits of Nottingham-based marina operator Aquavista to Antin Infrastructure Partners, and Essex-based Shaken Udder to Idilia, the leading chocolate business in Spain.

David Bains, Partner and Head of LDC in the East Midlands and East of England, said: “It’s been a busy start to the year and we’re seeing strong momentum across the region. Strengthening the team with Alistair’s appointment puts us in an even better position to build on that.

“Alistair brings valuable experience and will play an important role as we continue to support ambitious management teams across the East Midlands and East of England.”