Ronald Cohen is a founder of the private-equity industry in Europe and one of the world’s leading private-equity investors.

At the age of 26, after a successful academic career at Oxford University and Harvard Business School, he co-founded the firm that became Apax Partners. When he stepped down from the chairmanship thirty-three years later, Apax was the largest global private-equity firm based in Europe, with an impressive investment record, more than $20 billion under management, offices in eight countries, and more than 300 staff.

Ronald Cohen is chairman of Bridges Ventures and The Portland Trust, which seek to provide private-sector, commercial solutions to problems of social deprivation in Britain and to conflict in the Middle East. He is chairman of the Social Investment Task Force and of the Commission on Unclaimed Assets.

He is a trustee of the British Museum and of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is also chairman of Portland Capital, an investment management firm.

A recipient of the British Venture Capital Association’s Hall of Fame award and the Harvard Business School’s Alumni Achievement Award, he is also an honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard College. He was knighted in 2001 for his services to venture capital.

He has recently published “The Second Bounce of the Ball – Turning Risk into Opportunity” about entrepreneurship.
Born in Egypt, he is based in London with his wife and two children.