Manchester-based growth and investor partner eComplete has appointed former LDC co-chief Chris Hurley as chair to accelerate strategic business exits.
Hurley joins at a pivotal moment as eComplete looks to cement its position as a disruptor in private equity combining deep operational expertise with capital to scale and exit digital-first consumer brands.
Hurley delivered over 300 transactions and 100 successful exits during his 17 years at LDC.
As co-chair of the investment committee, he led some of the firm’s most high-profile deals, including the acquisition and sale of the NEC Group to Blackstone for over £800m, and helped scale brands like uSwitch, American Golf, and Kee Safety.
After LDC, he co-founded Dealspan, an advisory firm that has supported more than 130 exits to date. It rebranded as HGL Private Capital earlier this year.
Since eComplete acquired CurrentBody in 2021, the business has evolved into The Beauty Tech Group, expanding globally through strategic acquisitions of ZIIP and Tria Beauty, and is now exploring strategic options at a £350m valuation.
In early 2024, eComplete added Give Me Cosmetics to the portfolio; one of the UK’s fastest-growing beauty brands and a breakout TikTok success, now being scaled internationally through the eComplete platform.
eComplete is currently working on its next acquisition and has raised over £100m to date, fuelling its mission to build and exit world-class digital businesses.
Paul Gedman, CEO and co-founder of eComplete, commented: “Our ambition is simple: to scale digital businesses faster and more sustainably than anyone else.
“We’ve built the infrastructure, the talent, the tech and the data to do that, and now we’re levelling up.
“Chris’ arrival signals the next phase for eComplete. His experience across deal structuring, growth, and exits is second to none, and he’ll be instrumental in shaping the next chapter.”
Chris Hurley added: “eComplete is uniquely positioned to unlock value in digital-first brands at scale.
“The team has created something very special, a platform that combines the best of operational capability with the mindset of an investor.
“I’m excited to support the full spectrum of what’s next: deal execution, value creation, and strategic exits.”
Unlike traditional private equity, eComplete was purpose-built for eCommerce.
Its integrated platform, spanning data, talent, performance marketing, and global infrastructure, provides capabilities typically reserved for businesses worth hundreds of millions.
Through its hybrid model, eComplete not only backs brands with capital but also powers them operationally through its in-house agency, fulfilment network, and digital expertise.