Executive Chairman, Apax Partners Worldwide LLP
Sir Ronald Cohen is a founding partner and the executive chairman of Apax Partners Worldwide LLP. Founded in 1972, Apax Partners is one of the world’s leading private equity investment groups, operating across Europe, the USA, Israel and Japan. World-wide, it advises and manages funds of over $12 billion.
The firm invests in growth companies at all stages of development, from start-up to large leveraged transactions. It has investments in 330 companies across its chosen sectors of information technology; telecommunications; media; healthcare; financial services and retail and consumer products. Founded in 1972, it has been associated with such companies as Computacenter, Dr Solomon’s, Virgin Radio, Waterstone’s, Autonomy, Demon Internet, Dialog Semiconductor, Esprit Telecom and Arc International in the UK; Kamps, Nordsee and Tank und Rast in Germany; Nicox, Sephora and Aigle in France; Compugen and Fundtech in Israel and Apple Computers, America Online and Cellular Communications Inc. in the USA.
Sir Ronald is currently chairman of the Social Investment Task Force. He was chairman of the DTI “Tech Stars” Steering Committee and a member of the DTI UK Competitiveness Committee. He is chairman of Bridges Community Ventures Ltd.
He is a founder director and past chairman of the British Venture Capital Association and a founder director of the European Venture Capital Association and the Quoted Companies Alliance (formerly CISCO). He has served as a member of the London Stock Exchange Working Party on Smaller Companies.
He is a graduate of Oxford University, where he was President of the Oxford Union and is an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College. He has an MBA from Harvard Business School to which he was awarded a Henry Fellowship. He is a member of the Athenaeum Club.
Sir Ronald is married to Lady Sharon Harel Cohen and has two children. He has a great interest in music.
