Diane Seymour-Williams

Diane Seymour-Williams’ Biography

Diane is a founding partner of Acorn Capital Advisers, an independent adviser to family offices and families. Her executive career in investment management included roles as CIO, CEO and portfolio manager with considerable international experience, particularly in Asia and across global boutique and start-up businesses.

As an experienced Non Executive Director she has held roles across the wealth and investment management, private equity, investment services and VCT sectors. Diane is currently a Non-Executive Director of Mercia Asset Management Plc, PraxisIFM Group Limited, Standard Life Private Equity Trust Plc and SEI Investments (Europe) Limited.

Drawing on her successful career as a portfolio manager, Diane is now a highly regarded investment adviser to long-term endowments, institutions and family offices. She has a deep understanding of client expectations, needs and asset allocation as well as risk trade-offs. Diane has specialist expertise in perpetual capital vehicles, including venture and growth equities. She is experienced as a Chair including of ESG, Risk and Remuneration... Diane is a founding partner of Acorn Capital Advisers, an independent adviser to family offices and families. Her executive career in investment management included roles as CIO, CEO and portfolio manager with considerable international experience, particularly in Asia and across global boutique and start-up businesses.

As an experienced Non Executive Director she has held roles across the wealth and investment management, private equity, investment services and VCT sectors. Diane is currently a Non-Executive Director of Mercia Asset Management Plc, PraxisIFM Group Limited, Standard Life Private Equity Trust Plc and SEI Investments (Europe) Limited.

Drawing on her successful career as a portfolio manager, Diane is now a highly regarded investment adviser to long-term endowments, institutions and family offices. She has a deep understanding of client expectations, needs and asset allocation as well as risk trade-offs. Diane has specialist expertise in perpetual capital vehicles, including venture and growth equities. She is experienced as a Chair including of ESG, Risk and Remuneration committees.

Her pro bono work includes serving as a member of Investment Committees of Newnham College, Cambridge and the Canal & River Trust.

Diane graduated from Cambridge University and holds a Master of Arts in Economics. READ MORE VIEW LESS

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Chrysalis Investments Limited Announces New Independent Valuation Committee

Diane Seymour-Williams’ Background

Acorn Capital Advisers

Founding Partner

Mar 2018 - Present

London, UK

Diane is a Founding Partner at Acorn Capital Advisers, an independent wealth management adviser to family offices and UHNWI.

LGM Investments

Director & Global Head of Relationship Management

Apr 2007 - Feb 2016

London, UK

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Current Board Positions

Chrysalis Investments

Member of the Valuation Committee

Jun 2022 - Present

London, UK

Chrysalis Investments is a British investment trust that invests in a portfolio of private firms with long-term growth prospects in the United Kingdom and Europe. The company was founded in November 2018 and is a member of the FTSE 250 Index.

Mercia Asset Management

Non-Executive Director

Nov 2020 - Present

Mercia Asset Management is a specialist asset manager with a focus on regional businesses seeking venture, private equity or debt finance to scale their businesses. Mercia is exclusively a UK domestic investor.

Standard Life Private Equity Trust plc (SLPET)

Non Executive Director

Jun 2017 - Present

London, UK

The Standard Life Private Equity Trust aims to achieve long-term returns through holding a diversified portfolio of private equity funds and direct investments, focusing on mid-market buy-outs.

PraxisIFM

Non Executive Director

Aug 2019 - Present

Guernsey, UK

PraxisIFM was established in 1972 and is an independent, owner-managed, group of companies. They provide a wide range of bespoke professional services to private individuals, families & international corporate clients.

SEI Investments (Europe) Ltd

Non Executive Director

Oct 2019 - Present

London, UK

As at June 2020, SEI manages or administers $1 trillion (811 billion GBP) in hedge, private equity, mutual fund and pooled or separately managed assets, including $318 billion (258 billion GBP) in assets under management and $693 billion (562 billion GBP) in client assets under administration. SEI is a public company and is listed on the NASDAQ exchange under the symbol SEIC.

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Previous Board Positions

Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Non Executive Director

Aug 2011 - Oct 2020

London, UK

Diane was a Non Executive Director of Brooks Macdonald Group plc, an AIM-listed wealth manager.

Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Chairman, Remuneration Committee

Sep 2012 - Jul 2019

London, UK

Witan Pacific Investment Trust plc

Non Executive Director

Jun 2010 - Jun 2019

London, UK

Witan Pacific is a Far Eastern closed end investment trust invested in Asia Pacific equities and currently managed by Aberdeen, Matthews Asia and Gavekal.

Calculus VCT plc

Non Executive Director

Sep 2017 - Feb 2019

London, UK

A VCT closed end fund.

Neptune-Calculus Income & Growth VCT plc

Chair

Jun 2017 - Sep 2017

London, UK

Diane became Non Executive Chair of the Neptune Calculus Income & Growth VCT Plc, which merged with Calculus VCT in September 2017. Following the merger she became a Non-Executive Director of the enlarged Calculus VCT plc.

Various Fund Boards

Non Executive Director

Jun 1993 - Apr 2016

Singapore, UK

Diane was a Non-Executive Director of The China Fund (1993-1996), Pakistan Fund (1993-96), Batavia Fund (1993-96), Calculus Capital Ltd (2007-12) and several Irish domiciled UCITS Boards (1998-2016).

Greater Korea Trust

Chairman of the Advisory Board

Jun 1993 - Jun 1997

Diane served as Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Greater Korea Trust.

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Philanthropy

The Canal & River Trust

Investment Committee Member (Pro Bono)

Oct 2020 - Present

Milton Keynes, UK

The Canal & River Trust looks after over 2,000 miles of waterways in the UK. The Trust works with volunteers and communities across England and Wales to transform canals and rivers into spaces where people want to spend time and feel better.

Newnham College, Cambridge University

Investment Committee Member (Pro bono)

2004 - Present

Cambridge, UK

Newnham College forms part of the University of Cambridge and was established in 1871 as one of the first women’s colleges. It is now the only undergraduate college with an all-female Fellowship.

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Publications

Investment Committees – focusing on the game changers for performance and risk

Author

Mar 2022

London, UK

In this article, Diane outlines the benefits of having an investment committee. She explains how it may bring fresh perspectives to the strategic advantage and enhance the performance of families and endowments' long-term horizons.