Octopus Ventures, part of Octopus Group, has appointed Jamie Kennell as senior partner and head of portfolio strategy.

Kennell joins from Pembroke Investment Managers, which manages the £300m Pembroke Venture Capital Trust (VCT). He initially joined Pembroke as head of investment portfolio, where he developed and oversaw an evolution and transformation of the VCT’s portfolio strategy, reporting and execution, before he was promoted to chief investment officer in May 2023.

He has also held senior roles with NatWest Markets, KPMG and 3i PLC. Latterly, he worked with Corporate Finance International, a global group of middle-market investment banks and corporate finance advisers, and Beringea, the transatlantic venture capital investor.