A former head of European high-yield bond syndicate at Citigroup in London, and one-time Financial News Rising Star, has launched a new UK and Europe-focused private investment firm.

Andrew Watkins-Ball, 33, who left Citigroup in the summer of 2007, founded MWB Capital last year with partner Julian McIntrye, the former founder and chief executive of Gateway Communications Group, an Africa-focused business and retail communications firm.