📖 Biography

Wol Kolade initially trained as an engineer, studying civil and structural engineering at King's College, London, before completing an MBA at Exeter University and spending three years at Barclays, an unconventional path into what would become a career defining UK private equity.

Kolade joined a predecessor firm to Livingbridge in 1993 and has led the business since 1998, playing an instrumental role in developing its strategy and leading its spin-out from parent company F&C in 2005, overseeing its growth into one of the UK's leading mid-market private equity firms.

As Managing Partner of Livingbridge, Kolade has taken a particular interest in healthcare, education and diversity within private equity, previously serving as Chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association and Chairman of the Responsible Investment Advisory Board.

Kolade co-founded the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative, a programme designed to transform the horizons and employment prospects of young Black people across Britain by offering paid internships across multiple industry sectors, reflecting his long-standing commitment to improving diversity in finance.

Kolade was previously Chairman of the Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation, one of the UK's largest medical charities with assets exceeding £1 billion, and received a CBE for services to Financial Services in the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, alongside being inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame.

🕰️ Timeline
1993
Joins a predecessor firm to Livingbridge.
1998
Becomes head of the business.
2005
Leads Livingbridge's spin-out from parent company F&C.
2007
Becomes Chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association.
2014
Receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Exeter.
2021
Awarded a CBE and inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame.
✦ Achievements
  • ◆Managing Partner of Livingbridge, one of the UK's leading mid-market private equity firms
  • ◆Co-founded the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative
  • ◆Former Chairman of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association
  • ◆Former Chairman of the Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation, a £1bn+ medical charity
  • ◆Inducted into the Private Equity Hall of Fame, 2021
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Wol has been instrumental in developing the Livingbridge strategy, leading the spin out from its parent F&C in 2005, growing the business and team as well as establishing a strong internal culture.
On Wol Kolade's leadership of Livingbridge
🕊️ Legacy
Wol Kolade's three decades building Livingbridge into one of the UK's leading mid-market private equity firms, combined with his co-founding of the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative, established him as both a major figure in British finance and a sustained advocate for diversity within the industry.
💡 Leadership Lessons
  • →An unconventional background can lead to industry leadership. Kolade's training as an engineer, rather than a traditional finance route, preceded three decades building one of the UK's leading private equity firms.
  • →Industry leaders can actively widen access for others. Kolade's co-founding of the 10,000 Black Interns Initiative reflects a deliberate effort to open doors in finance that were not widely available to him.