About us

Linear Investments > About us

Linear is a specialist award winning prime broker and discretionary fund manager based in London and Hamburg. Linear’s integrated platform solution brings together all the skills, expertise, and solutions you require in one place.

Linear’s core services are designed to offer you, our client, the most efficient and cost effective service available in the market. Whether you are a hedge fund manager, trader or broker Linear Investments is ideally placed to provide you with access to the very best market solutions.

Brokerage and Custody:

Linear provide access to most global equity markets and all key financial instruments: Equities, ETF’s Fixed Income, Futures, Options and all the structures needed to support these instruments – SWAPS/PB/Stock Loan and derivative instruments.

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Discretionary Fund Management:

Linear’s team of specialists navigate market nuances in order to optimise portfolios and monitor risk. Our investment philosophy is centred around providing a quality investment service that can translate investment objectives into carefully constructed portfolios, specifically designed in conjunction with risk profiles. Linear are experts in the alternatives and absolute return investment space.

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Jerry Lees

CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER

Jerry Lees has been an active entrepreneur in the success of multiple technology and financial businesses. Previously, Global Head of Alternative Execution at Credit Agricole Cheuvreux and Partner on the Executive Committee for 12 years in the Group, firstly in Asia and then Europe.

Paul Kelly

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Paul was previously a Managing Director at Citigroup and Head of Wholesale Execution Services EMEA, spearheading the new wholesale broker to broker business and tasked to integrate electronic trading products with custody and clearing. Prior to Citigroup he was CEO of NYFIX International Ltd, responsible for the build out and launch of NYFIX Euro Millennium MTF (Multilateral Trading Facility – a dark pool).

Steve Smith

Chief Operating Officer

Steve has over 25 years of experience in both front and back office roles across multi-asset class environments. Having built and managed stable trading infrastructures for many years, Steve has held previous roles as COO, Director, and Head of Technology & Operations at firms including Kyte Broking, Marex Spectron, and Eden Financial

Kate Horne

Linear Media, Director

Kate spent many years working in sales and business development in the property and finance sectors before moving to a career in marketing and founding Linear Media. Her passion lies in creating content and working with Linear Media’s clients to build their brand and digital visibility. Away from the office Kate spends her time competing in classic cars and personal training.

Mark Burchell

Global Head of Sales

Mark has over 28 years of experience in the Investment Banking Industry – and joined Linear Investments in January 2014. Working for S.G. Warburg & Co on the European market making and Portfolio Trading Desks from 1987. Following this Mark was a Managing Director at Bear Stearns International where he helped build the European Portfolio Trading sales desk and was a key contact for the Prime Brokerage team. Thereafter Mark held positions on the electronic trading sales desks at CA Cheuvreux (Senior Sales Manager) and Knight Capital (Director).

David Michael

Managing Director, Head of Trading

A mutli-asset sales and trading career in institutional financial services. Covering Equities, Fixed Income, Structured Products, Mutual Funds, FX, Futures & Options. Extensive breadth of experience and a reputation for a strong work ethic, integrity and results. Meticulously balances customer service with risk, revenue and cost. Differential factors: deep practical and academic understanding of sales, trading and risk management through specialised MBA. Continued professional development in Compliance and Investment Management. Enjoys horse racing, football (viewing) and boot camp (participant).

Tim Harrison

Wealth Management, CHAIRMAN & FOUNDER

Tim Harrison read Economics at the University of Reading. Upon leaving in 2004, he joined a boutique Investment Bank where he specialised in portfolio management with a bias toward multi asset allocation for High Net Worth Clients. Tim allocated client capital in to Hedge Funds (Stenham, Man AHL and PIMCO to name a few) and garnered a fine track record for clients through the financial crisis. Many of these clients have remained with him which is a true testament of his abilities.

Mark Phipps

Partner, International payments

Mark has worked in FX for over 15 years within some of the markets largest FX providers. He started his career in sales and progressed all the way through to Trading and onto management. During his career, Mark has advised some of the largest UK corporates and best know retail sector companies building long standing relationships. Mark has a wealth of experience in this space and uses this experience to help with clients requirements and develop Linear International Payments as a business.

Simon Bayles

Chief Investment Officer

Simon has over 20 years of experience working within financial services and is considered an expert in multi-disciplines across traditional and alternative asset classes. As CIO and founding member of Blue Oak Capital Group, Simon implemented advanced research systems, taking on responsibility for proprietary software and portfolio construction. A member of the Investment Committee he also undertook responsibility for two fund of hedge funds, a structured European equity portfolio, establishing an on-shore private equity team for Chinese investments, and building a multi-currency debit card.

Dipesh Chauhan

Head of Information Technology

Dipesh Chauhan, the Head of Information Technology, leads Linear’s long-term technology vision and provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, robust, and secure information technology environment throughout the business.

Prior to joining Linear in 2018, Dipesh has over 12 years of experience within the Financial Services industry, working in a variety of roles from Development and Professional Services, through to Business Analysis for large buy-side software firms including SS&C Advent and Broadridge Financial Solutions Limited.

Callan Boyle

Vice President | Fund Investments

Callan started his career at Linear working directly for the Chairman across the whole business, and quickly gained experience with many alternative investment strategies, structures and processes. Having worked within Capital Introduction Services, Callan was selected to join the discretionary fund management team to assist in the analysis, assessment, and ongoing monitoring of funds. Callan has been awarded the Investment Management Certificate and is a candidate in the CFA Program. Prior to joining Linear, Callan obtained his degree in Economics from Durham University.

Yetunde Paul

Executive Director of Finance

Yetunde (Yeti) Paul – Yeti is the Executive Director of Finance at Linear Investment Limited. She has over 15 years’ experience in the technology and financial services industry. Previously worked in Allocate Software and Citrix Systems. She holds an Accounting qualification, Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and an MBA in Finance.