Silverpeak LLP

Passion, energy and deeper understanding

Delivering the best outcome for technology companies

We represent European growth businesses, engaging with the most relevant investors and acquirers, wherever they may be.

We share your passion for technology

Every business we work with excites us. Our passion and energy are apparent from first meeting to final close.

The best possible representation for the best possible outcome

Deep business and tech understanding

Our industry knowledge enables us to understand the most challenging markets and services – you will never need to simplify your proposition to us.

We uncover the hidden value in the technology, growth potential, management team and their vision. Only when we unlock all of the potential value do we articulate it to the acquirers or investors that would benefit most.

Global reach

We provide exceptional global execution, connecting you with the right investors and acquirers, wherever they may be.

Everything we do is concentrated in a tight beam through our London office. The same faces will be with you every step of the way: analysing your business, representing you in the global market and executing your deal.

Our Team

Stephen Winningham, Chair

Stephen joined Silverpeak in 2024 as non-executive Chair, bringing a wealth of experience as an international banker who has led and built corporate finance and M&A businesses across Europe, the US, and Asia.

Stephen has held numerous corporate Board positions, including recently as Chair of IP Integration, a London-based software company, and as Independent Director and member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees of Teleperformance SE, the global leader of the Customer Contact Centre industry.

Stephen is also an Independent Director and member of the Audit and Remuneration Committees of Cascadia Capital, an M&A firm in the US.

He is passionate about charity work and co-founded and chairs City Harvest London, a charity working to reduce food insecurity and protect the planet by diverting nutritious, in-date surplus food from landfill and redistributing it to those facing food poverty. He is also a Trustee of Paddington Development Trust.

Stephen holds an MBA from Columbia University, with a focus on Finance and Marketing, a BA from Colgate University, and he undertook additional graduate studies in Economics at New York University. In his free time, he enjoys theatre, golf, reading and spending time with his family.

Paddy MccGwire, Managing Partner

Paddy is a founding Partner of Silverpeak with over 25 years’ specialist experience advising on transactions in the technology sector.

This includes private equity, software/SaaS, digital & tech enabled services, and several deeptech sub-sectors.

Through his extensive experience, Paddy understands the real issues in growing a tech business. This experience includes seven years at private equity group 3i, after a stint at electronics group STC plc.

He founded Cobalt Corporate Finance in 1996, which he led until the merger which created Silverpeak in 2016.

He also acquired a compliance software business which he sold in 2022, and has been a board member of a high growth intelligent automation SaaS company.

Paddy holds a BSc (Hons) in Management Sciences from the University of Manchester (UMIST). He is a Liveryman of the Information Technologists Company and a founding member of the international M&A network Globalscope.

Pietro Strada, Managing Partner

Pietro is a founding Partner at Silverpeak and brings over 25 years’ experience of investment banking in the technology sector to the Silverpeak senior team.

In this time, he has completed numerous successful deals across the globe.

His dynamism, passion for technology, and straight-talking attitude have allowed him to develop strong relationships and deliver valuable outcomes across a range of transaction types. This includes trade sales, growth financings, public takeovers, mergers, continuation funds and divestitures.

Prior to forming Silverpeak, Pietro was Principal at Broadview (bought by Jefferies), Managing Director at Torch Partners, Corporate Development Director at LexisNexis (a division of RELX), consultant at Bain & Co, and an electronic design engineer at OHB System and Italtel.

Pietro holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MSc in Micro and Opto Electronic Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. He is fluent in English, Italian, German, French, and speaks some Spanish.

Pietro is active in many sports (tennis, sailing, skiing, running, and cycling). He loves to spend time with his wife and children and to support his charitable interests.

David Ford, Partner

David joined Silverpeak in 2018 as a Director and was promoted to Partner in 2022. He leans on over 12 years of operational experience to understand our clients’ businesses and unlock their potential value. He also has over 15 years of experience in corporate finance advisory roles.

His operational experience was gathered across telecoms, satellites, location services, sensors, and precision engineering. This brings a different perspective to the team.

In corporate finance, his experience includes working with Cobalt Corporate Finance and Clearwater Corporate Finance.

His most recent operational experience was as CEO of Magnetic North Software. Magnetic North was a proprietary Cloud Contact Centre and Cloud Unified Communications solution, which David sold for $39m to West corporation (now Intrado) following three years of 30%+ growth.

David has a first-class degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering, and an MBA from INSEAD.

These days he is on the wrong side of the touchline, but he still enjoys running, sailing, and occasional kitesurfing as well as some angel investing.

Jane Martin, Operations Partner

Jane has overall responsibility for the firm’s operations and was promoted to Operations Partner in 2016.

Jane met Silverpeak co-founder, Paddy MccGwire, when she joined Cobalt Corporate Finance as Office Manager. There, she ran the marketing and finance function and handled the day-to-day administration. Known for her problem-solving ability, she also provided support for the team. She left Cobalt with Paddy, to become part of Silverpeak’s founding team.

Prior to this, she held roles with Barclays and communications consultancy, ECD Insight.

Although she plays a vital role in ensuring Silverpeak delivers excellent service to its clients, she is no fan of the limelight.

Jane decompresses via the far-slower-paced practice of making sourdough bread, but excitement is never far away: she is an avid supporter of Liverpool FC.

Christopher White, Managing Director

Christopher is a Managing Director at Silverpeak having joined Silverpeak in 2021

He manages deals from discovery through to exit leaning on over a decade of experience across corporate finance and deals.

Before joining Silverpeak, Christopher worked in Grant Thornton’s Corporate Finance team and at SPIE, an independent European leader in multi-technical services in the areas of energy and communications. This gave him invaluable deal experience from both a buy and sell-side perspective.

Christopher holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and has passed CFA level 1.

Outside of work, you’ll find Christopher sharpening his reflexes in the boxing ring or trying to relax on the golf course.

Emma Payne, Marketing Director

Emma joined Silverpeak as a consultant Marketing Director in 2022 following the successful completion of a perception study and positioning strategy project in 2021. She has over 25 years’ experience of marketing in corporate finance and private equity.

In 2005, Emma established her independent strategic marketing consultancy, EVP Marketing. This followed various strategic marketing roles including Marketing Director for Lyceum Capital (now Horizon), Directorbank, and Global Marketing Manager for Arthur Andersen corporate finance.

Past clients of her consultancy practice include Bowmark Capital, EY, Fitch Ratings, Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer, Investec, MJ Hudson, Octopus, Shoosmiths (PE), and YFM Equity Partners.

Outside the office, Emma enjoys nature and manages eight acres of ancient Sussex woodland with her family. She also loves swimming and yoga as well as watching her local team Brighton and Hove Albion.

Address: 123 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6DE, United Kingdom

Phone: +44 (0) 20 7529 5400
Email: london@silverpeakib.com