Sebastian James recently joined Financo as Special Advisor based in London. His primary responsibility is to provide broad-level coverage for the European markets with a special focus on the UK. In addition he provides support for US-based transactions with a European component. He has long experience of undertaking transactions in the retail sector both as principal and working with private equity firms. He has been involved in leading a varied range of such deals including corporate sales and purchases, recapitalisations, start-up fund raising, restructuring and resolution of distressed situations, working with APAX, Goldman Sachs, Schroder Ventures and others.

Prior to Joining Financo, he has been CEO of two private-equity backed entrepreneurial businesses within or serving the retail sector. He was also Strategic Director of Mothercare during the turnaround of the business and was COO Europe of iFormation, a specialist private-equity joint venture of Goldman Sachs and General Atlantic Partners. He started his career with The Boston Consulting Group in London and Chicago.

Sebastian James was awarded an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD in Fontainebleau and is a graduate in Law with Honours from Oxford University.