Gresham Private Equity has bolstered its operations outside London with the hire of a senior local banker, in contrast to a number of private equity firms that have centralised in the capital.

Mark Blower will join the mid-market firm as a partner in its Manchester investment team on January 18. He was previously head of the north west office at Lloyds Acquisition Finance and prior to this worked as head of NM Rothschild & Sons' Leeds office.