About Us

We partner with companies building the food system of the future. 

We are a specialist investment advisory firm focused exclusively on the food value chain. Our conviction is that the transition to a more efficient, resilient and secure food system is one of the most consequential and compelling investment opportunities of our time.

We don’t approach this as a theme but as a structural reality that will reshape supply chains, agricultural systems and food technology for decades. The companies at the forefront of that transition, those deploying cutting-edge technology to drive efficiency, reduce risk and strengthen their competitive position are the companies that generate superior margins, command premium valuations and deliver outstanding returns. That alignment of purpose and performance is at the heart of everything we do.

 

Rob Appleby, Founder & CIO

Our role is to identify and back those operators, innovators and builders early, across the full breadth of the food value chain, from field to fork.

Cibus Fund

Mid-Market Private
Equity
&
Real Asset Farming

Cibus Enterprise

Agri-Food Tech
Venture Capital

Cibus Carbon

Carbon
Sequestration
&
Natural Capital

Cibus Foundation

Non-Profit
Sustainability

Investment Advisory Team

The Cibus team combines deep experience in finance with hands-on knowledge of farming; a rare blend that bridges two worlds and drives our mission to build a more sustainable global food system.

Alastair Cooper

Alastair Cooper

Head of Venture

Alastair is Head of Venture and member of the Investment Advisory Committee. He spent 18 years in investment banking, including 16 years at Morgan Stanley as Managing Director in the Equity Division (London and Hong Kong). After leaving banking in 2002, he attended the Royal Agricultural University and has managed his own mixed organic farm. Alastair holds a BSc in Zoology from the University of Exeter.

London, UK
Annie Rainsford

Annie Rainsford

General Counsel

Annie is General Counsel, joining Cibus Capital in 2016. She was previously General Counsel at Motion Equity Partners and Bluefield Partners. Annie qualified as a lawyer at Ashurst in 2000 and holds an MA in Economics from Durham University.

London, UK
Archie Burgess

Archie Burgess

Investment Director

Archie is an Investment Director focused on Venture. Prior to joining Cibus in 2020, he worked in Investment Banking at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in London within the Industrials Group. Archie holds an MSc in Chemistry from the University of Oxford.

London, UK
Catherine Griggs

Catherine Griggs

Cibus Representative on GP Boards

Catherine is a consultant Director of Fund Operations at Cibus Capital and a director of the Cibus Funds’ General Partners. Prior to joining in April 2025, she was Managing Director at Stenham Asset Management in Guernsey for 12 years. She has over 35 years’ experience in fund of funds and hedge fund business. Catherine holds a BA in Accounting & Finance from the University of West of England and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

London, UK
Damon Petrie

Damon Petrie

Consultant Investment Director

Damon is a Consultant Investment Director responsible for Australian and New Zealand agricultural strategy. Prior to joining Cibus in 2018, he spent 12 years in audit, financial reporting and taxation across public practice and commercial enterprises in the agriculture sector. Damon is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of New England.

Sydney, Australia
Ella Exley

Ella Exley

Impact Analyst

Ella is an Impact Analyst, joining in September 2023 as an ESG Intern after completing an MSc in Environmental Technology at Imperial College London. She holds a BA in Geography from University College London and previously worked in sustainable investment advisory.

London, UK
Fred Appleby

Fred Appleby

Head of Operations

Fred is Head of Operations, responsible for IT and administration. He joined Cibus in 2013 as an Intern and is now a member of the Valuation Committee. Fred previously worked at TBWA and Montier Partners and holds a BA in Ancient History from Newcastle University.

London, UK
Georgina Thomas

Georgina Thomas

Head of Impact

Georgina is Head of Impact, joining Cibus in 2021. She was Senior Associate at Worthstone, an impact investment consultancy, and developed sustainability strategies for multiple start-ups. Georgina holds an MSc in Climate Change, Finance and Management from Imperial College London and a BSc in Geology from Durham University.

London, UK
Hugo Kelly

Hugo Kelly

Investment Director

Hugo is an Investment Director focused on Private Equity and Real Assets. Prior to joining Cibus in 2021, he spent five years at Greenhill & Co. in M&A and Restructuring in London and New York. Hugo holds a BA in Modern and Medieval Languages from the University of Cambridge and speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish.

London, UK
Jason Silm

Jason Silm

Head of Agriculture

Jason is Head of Agriculture and member of the Investment Advisory Committee. He was previously Head of Agribusiness Investments at VTB Capital Private Equity in Moscow, and Global Head of Operations at Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management, overseeing AUD 1.06bn in assets. Jason holds a Bachelor of Business from Charles Sturt University.

London, UK
Jeremy Alun-Jones

Jeremy Alun-Jones

Chief Operating Officer

Jeremy is Chief Operating Officer with oversight of operations, valuations, finance and risk management. Prior to Cibus, he founded and sold Montier Asset Management to Stenham Asset Management, where he became Group Managing Director of the Hedge Fund Division. Jeremy began his career as an equity research analyst and holds an MA in Human Sciences from the University of Oxford.

London, UK
Louis Matovu

Louis Matovu

Investment Analyst

Louis is an Investment Analyst focusing on Private Equity and Real Assets. He completed internships at Cibus and Credit Suisse before joining full-time in 2023. Louis holds a BA in History from University College London.

London, UK
Lucy Gray

Lucy Gray

Investor Relations Associate

Lucy is an Associate in the Investor Relations team at Cibus Capital. She has seven years’ experience in the real estate sector, working with institutional investors across transactions, valuations and consultancy projects. Lucy holds an MSc in Real Estate from Reading University, a BA in Geography from Exeter University and has completed the Sustainable Real Estate certification from Cambridge University.

London, UK
Manuel Vilches

Manuel Vilches

Senior Investment Associate

Manuel is a Senior Investment Associate, joining full-time after his MBA in 2023. He worked as Manager in Strategy and Operations at Roland Berger and Efficio and completed internships with Henko Partners and CDAM. Manuel holds a BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering from ICAI – Universidad Pontificia Comillas and an MBA from London Business School. He speaks English and Spanish.

London, UK
Mario Gao

Mario Gao

Investment Associate

Mario is an Investment Associate on the Mid-Market team. He joined as an MBA intern in 2025, having previously spent six years at Deloitte Financial Advisory across M&A and restructuring. Mario holds an MSc in Finance from London Business School and is a CFA charterholder.

 

London, UK
Niamh Finch

Niamh Finch

Legal Counsel

Niamh is Legal Counsel, joining Cibus in September 2024 after qualifying as a solicitor at Rohan Solicitors LLP. She holds an LLB from the University of Portsmouth and an LPC with an MSc in Professional Legal Practice from the University of Law.

 

London, UK
Olga Teteruk

Olga Teteruk

Consultant Senior Investment Associate

Olga is a Consultant Senior Investment Associate at Cibus Capital. Prior to joining Cibus in 2026, she completed a trainee program at Robert Bosch Ltd. Olga holds an MSc in Finance and Credit from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and is a CFA charterholder.

Kyiv, Ukraine
Priyesh Malavia

Priyesh Malavia

Financial Controller

Priyesh is an Accounting and Finance graduate and Part-Qualified ACCA student. He began his career in public practice (accounts, tax, audit) before moving into industry with a focus on fund administration. Prior to joining Cibus in 2022, he worked with a firm providing debt and equity property development investment opportunities to institutional investors.

London, UK
Robert Appleby

Robert Appleby

Founder and Chief Investment Officer

Rob founded Cibus Capital and serves as Chief Investment Officer. Over the past 23 years, he has invested across emerging and developed markets in Oceania, Asia and Europe. Prior to Cibus, he was co-founder and Joint CIO of ADM Capital Hong Kong. He spent 13 years at Lehman Brothers in Fixed Income Sales and Trading across London, New York and Singapore. Rob holds a BA in Zoology and Anthropology from St Peter’s College, Oxford.

London, UK
Susie Harrison

Susie Harrison

Office Coordinator

Susie is Office Coordinator and responsible for office administration, accounts and executive support. Prior to joining Cibus in 2015, she ran her own property search company and worked with high-net-worth individuals coordinating personal and professional affairs.

London, UK
Tarquin Stephenson

Tarquin Stephenson

Consultant Venture Associate

Tarquin joined Cibus as an Intern in 2019 and became full-time on the Venture team in 2020. He holds an MSc in Engineering from the University of Oxford, specialising in environmental technology.

Austin, US
Terence Ngwerume

Terence Ngwerume

Consultant Investment Analyst

Terence is an Investment Analyst focusing on investment and lending opportunities in Australia and New Zealand. Prior to joining Cibus in 2021, he worked at EY in Transactions and Corporate Finance and held roles at Trustees Executors and KPMG New Zealand. Terence holds a Bachelor of Business Studies from Massey University, a Graduate Diploma in Commerce from the University of Auckland and is a Chartered Accountant with CA ANZ.

Sydney, Australia
Tom Ritchie

Tom Ritchie

Investment Director

Tom is an Investment Director at Cibus Capital. Prior to joining in 2021, he spent 10 years at Rabobank, including with the Rabo Food and Agri Innovation Fund, where he focused on impact investing in food and agriculture start-ups. Tom holds a BSc in Economics and Business from the University of Exeter.

London, UK