Leadership team
Meet the people leading Octopus Capital
Bringing together deep investment expertise and an entrepreneurial drive to make a difference.
Our leadership team
We are part of a group of remarkable companies – built over 25 years.
Octopus Capital, part of Octopus Investments, is a B-Corp certified investment company. Our team of experts support our institutional clients’ investment objectives with impact-focused strategies aligned to solving the world’s greatest challenges.
Lieven Debruyne
CEO, Octopus Capital
Lieven leads Octopus Capital and brings over two decades of global asset management experience. He spent 20 years at Schroders, holding senior roles in Hong Kong and London, including CEO of Asia Pacific and Global Head of Distribution.
He served on the Group Management Committee and helped grow Schroders’ institutional, retail and wealth businesses. Lieven was also a Board member of Greencoat Capital.
Before joining Octopus, he was a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, supporting private markets clients across strategy, distribution and innovation.
He served on the Group Management Committee and helped grow Schroders’ institutional, retail and wealth businesses. Lieven was also a Board member of Greencoat Capital.
Before joining Octopus, he was a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, supporting private markets clients across strategy, distribution and innovation.
Jonathan Digges
Chief Investment Officer
Jonathan is responsible for the investment strategy across Octopus Capital’s fund management businesses, which manage more than £10 billion in client assets.
He joined Octopus in 2015, previously managing the Inheritance Tax Service. Before this, he worked at Lloyds, BNP Paribas, Robert Fleming and PwC. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MA in Geography from the University of Oxford.
He joined Octopus in 2015, previously managing the Inheritance Tax Service. Before this, he worked at Lloyds, BNP Paribas, Robert Fleming and PwC. He is a Chartered Accountant and holds an MA in Geography from the University of Oxford.
Caroline Turner
Head of Client Group
Caroline leads our institutional client and consultant engagement strategy. She works closely with investment teams to build strong partnerships and deliver meaningful client outcomes.
She joined from Willis Towers Watson, where she spent 15 years advising on investment strategy and ESG, and leading on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Caroline holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Exeter and the Investment Management Certificate.
She joined from Willis Towers Watson, where she spent 15 years advising on investment strategy and ESG, and leading on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Caroline holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Exeter and the Investment Management Certificate.
Alan Cauberghs
Head of Private Debt
Alan joined Octopus Capital in 2025 to lead our private debt platform. He brings extensive experience in direct lending, private credit and alternative assets.
Previously, he was at Investcorp and Generali, where he helped build Schroders’ private assets platform. He also co-founded Serone Capital, an alternative credit manager focused on structured and distressed strategies.
Alan holds an MSc in Finance and Economics from the University of Antwerp and is a CFA Charterholder.
Previously, he was at Investcorp and Generali, where he helped build Schroders’ private assets platform. He also co-founded Serone Capital, an alternative credit manager focused on structured and distressed strategies.
Alan holds an MSc in Finance and Economics from the University of Antwerp and is a CFA Charterholder.
Edward Clough
Head of Real Estate
Ed leads Octopus Real Estate and sits on the Investment Committee. Since joining in 2017, he’s helped expand the platform across care homes, affordable housing and specialist real estate.
He previously led our Care Homes and Corporate Development teams. Before Octopus, Ed trained as a lawyer at Allen & Overy.
He holds a BA in Economics from Durham University and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.
He previously led our Care Homes and Corporate Development teams. Before Octopus, Ed trained as a lawyer at Allen & Overy.
He holds a BA in Economics from Durham University and an MBA from the University of Cambridge.
John Averill
Chief Risk Officer
John oversees risk management at Octopus Capital. He joined in 2015 and has helped shape our approach to risk across private markets and real assets.
He began his career at PwC before moving to UBS, where he worked across wealth management, asset management and investment banking.
John brings a strong track record in building robust, scalable risk frameworks aligned to long-term growth.
He began his career at PwC before moving to UBS, where he worked across wealth management, asset management and investment banking.
John brings a strong track record in building robust, scalable risk frameworks aligned to long-term growth.
Octopus Investments Limited board members
Simon Rogerson
Group CEO
Simon has overall responsibility for the day-to-day decisions and strategic direction of Octopus Group.
Much of his time is spent looking for new opportunities for Octopus, such as moving into the commercial energy sector with Octopus Energy.
Before founding Octopus in 2000, Simon spent two years working at Mercury Asset Management. He holds a first-class MA in Modern Languages from St. Andrews University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Much of his time is spent looking for new opportunities for Octopus, such as moving into the commercial energy sector with Octopus Energy.
Before founding Octopus in 2000, Simon spent two years working at Mercury Asset Management. He holds a first-class MA in Modern Languages from St. Andrews University and is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Stuart Quickenden
Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board
Stuart Quickenden is a Non-Executive Director of Octopus Investments and Chair of the Board. He was appointed in 2022.
Jonathan Dees
Chief Operations Officer
Jonathan joined Octopus in 2019 and leads central operations across the business, with a focus on platform efficiency and growth enablement.
His previous roles include Chief Operating Officer of Zoopla’s software business and Managing Director at TripAdvisor’s holiday lettings division.
Jonathan brings deep experience in digital, operations and scaling businesses for long-term impact.
His previous roles include Chief Operating Officer of Zoopla’s software business and Managing Director at TripAdvisor’s holiday lettings division.
Jonathan brings deep experience in digital, operations and scaling businesses for long-term impact.
Lieven Debruyne
CEO, Octopus Capital
Lieven leads Octopus Capital and brings over two decades of global asset management experience. He spent 20 years at Schroders, holding senior roles in Hong Kong and London, including CEO of Asia Pacific and Global Head of Distribution.
He served on the Group Management Committee and helped grow Schroders’ institutional, retail and wealth businesses. Lieven was also a Board member of Greencoat Capital.
Before joining Octopus, he was a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, supporting private markets clients across strategy, distribution and innovation.
He served on the Group Management Committee and helped grow Schroders’ institutional, retail and wealth businesses. Lieven was also a Board member of Greencoat Capital.
Before joining Octopus, he was a Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, supporting private markets clients across strategy, distribution and innovation.
Erin Platts
CEO of Octopus Investments & Octopus Ventures
Erin became CEO of Octopus Investments in September 2025, following her appointment as CEO of Octopus Ventures in January 2025.
Prior to Octopus, Erin spent nearly two decades at HSBC Innovation Banking (formerly Silicon Valley Bank UK), where she became a trusted partner to entrepreneurs and investors while scaling the bank’s UK operations. Erin is a proven leader with extensive experience building and scaling financial services organisations that support innovation and entrepreneurship.
Erin has held board roles at UK Finance and the ScaleUp Institute, and continues to serve with Founders Pledge and London Tech Week, in addition to being a member of the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce.
Duncan Martin
Independent Non-Executive Director
Duncan Martin is an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Octopus Investments Limited Board. He was appointed August 2025.