Our people

Chairman & Founder of Camden Ventures Ltd, Paul is one of the most successful and highly-regarded entrepreneurs involved in the UK automotive sector.  In a career spanning five decades, his first major acquisition was the buyout of Camden Motors Ltd from Barclays Bank PLC in 1996. From there, he’s gone on to lead the acquisition, growth and sale of a number of successful businesses with a combined turnover exceeding £2bn. His current business interests include automotive data, retail, health & wellness, sports management, property and fine art.  Paul combines vast experience with a passion for success. This forms the strong foundation upon which Camden Ventures has been built.

James has a wide range of business experience in various sectors and territories. Until their sale to Penske Automotive, he was a shareholder and Commercial Director for CarShop. In this role he oversaw a team of 200 people and was responsible for business intelligence, pricing, vehicle purchasing and preparation. James was instrumental in growing annual turnover from £150m to £700m in just 6 years.

James graduated from the University of Central Florida on a golf scholarship. After a brief stint playing professionally, he started a property development business in the Bahamas. He juggled this with his involvement in the Icon Sports management team, overseeing a growth phase that led to their sale to IMG. He’s currently Co-Managing Partner at Camden Ventures, leads operations for CM Management. When he’s not in the office, you can find James on the golf course or enjoying time with his wife (Emma) and their 3 children (Elvi, Jaxson and Emilia).

Voted as an Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year finalist in 2016, Jonathan was the largest shareholder and CEO of CarShop from 2013 to 2020. At CarShop he was responsible for spearheading business strategy and directing their proposition – combining innovation with detailed industry knowledge to deliver significant business growth. Jonathan and his team transformed the business into the class-leading automotive retailer they are today, growing revenues from £150m in 2012 to over £700m in 2019. This journey culminated in him leading the sale process to Penske Automotive Group/Sytner Group in 2017. During his time at Sytner Group, Jonathan was a member of the Executive Board and was directly involved in the safeguarding and development of the group.

Now Co-Managing Partner at Camden Ventures, Jonathan oversees the day-to-day operations of the business with James and provides invaluable support to our Partner portfolio. Outside of work, Jonathan competes and trains horses in the equestrian sport of Dressage. Jonathan has a passion for animals and is kept very busy at home looking after his dog and five horses.

Craig has worked for Camden Ventures as Financial Controller since he emigrated to the UK from South Africa in 2015. After obtaining an Accounting degree from the University of South Africa, he went on to work in various auditing and financial reporting roles in various sectors. Craig brings all this experience to the management of Camden Ventures’ finance and accounting functions – he is integral in ensuring the correct controls and MI are in place to ensure the business can thrive. . Away from the office, Craig likes to keep fit through Brazilian jiu-jitsu and spend time with his wife (Kerry) and their two sons (Jackson and Charlie).

Cathryn joined Camden Ventures in June 2024 as PA to Managing Partners. With extensive experience as a PA, she has built a strong reputation for her exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail, and ability to anticipate the needs of busy executives. Cathryn is passionate about creating efficient processes and providing seamless support, allowing the team to focus on strategic priorities. She thrives on problem-solving and takes pride in ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes, contributing to the growth and success of Camden Ventures.