The manager of Seraphim Space Investment Trust PLC (LSE:SSIT) has appointed former Virgin Group senior partner Patrick McCall to its investment team, where he will advise several portfolio companies.
McCall, former chair of Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit, is joining Seraphim Space Manager as a venture partner.
He will advise the boards of a number of the investment trust’s portfolio companies “with the specific interest of driving their climate and sustainability applications”, Seraphim said.
McCall, who after working as an investment banker at SG Warburg, spent two decades at the Virgin Group, where as well as helping oversee the listings of its two space-related companies and a launch agreement for Virgin Orbit from Spaceport Cornwall later this year, he sat on the board of seven companies that have gone on to become unicorns, from Virgin Mobile and Trainline to One Web.
“We are delighted to welcome Patrick as venture partner, as one of the world’s leading spacetech pioneers, to use his considerable experience to help Seraphim portfolio companies execute their ambitious plans to address climate and sustainability issues,” said Mark Boggett, chief executive of Seraphim Space Manager.
For his part, McCall said it was an exciting time for the space industry: “New technology and rapid innovation are driving significant progress in the sector and enabling new space companies to tackle some of the world's most complex environmental and social challenges.
“As a leading investor in space technology, Seraphim is ideally placed to develop this next generation with capital and expertise. I am looking forward to supporting this mission and building world class companies and solutions."