Our People

Chairman and Founder, Douglas Barrowman is the driving force behind the highly successful and dynamic Knox group of companies. A Chartered Accountant by profession, Douglas is an experienced businessman who has spent his entire career successfully investing in businesses and real estate. Having worked for the international private equity firm 3i in the late 1980s, he left to set up his own corporate finance practice, which he successfully developed and managed during the 1990s. He sold the practice in 1999 to concentrate on his own private investment vehicle Aston Ventures.

Over the next 10 years, Aston Ventures made 13 acquisitions of old economy businesses with a total turnover in excess of £400 million. Since 2008, Douglas has focused on developing the Knox group of companies that now collectively employs 350 staff and has funds under management and administration approaching £3billion.

After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Accounting & Finance, Tim Eve qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1996. Utilising his vocational training, Tim embarked on a career in Private Equity. His early career focused on advising the owner managed business sector and he successfully led a number of high profile acquisitions and disposals.

In 2004, Tim joined the Knox group of companies’ private equity company as a Partner. He has, over the course of the following decade, been heavily involved in sourcing, completing and managing transactions. In 2014, Tim was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Knox group of companies. Holding Board directorships on many of the Knox group of companies, he assists with their good running, devising and implementing strategy and where appropriate leading on key acquisitions.

Ed is the Managing Director of the Knox group of companies’ credit brokerage service. Ed has more than 30 years of senior manager banking experience, and has extensive and in-depth knowledge of all aspects of Corporate Finance and Banking.

Ed started his career in 1985 in Midland Bank, rising rapidly through the management structure and, following its acquisition by HSBC, he held a series of highly successful senior manager positions in the UK, including area director, Head of corporate and commercial banking centres, regional retail director. Latterly he held the position of HSBC Island Director, corporate and commercial, in the Isle of Man. A qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ed has also attended both London and Warwick Business Schools to further develop his management and business skills.

Since moving to the Isle of Man in 2007 to become HSBC Island Director, he has held positions in the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce and the Vice-President position of the Isle of Man Bankers’ Association.  More recently, Ed was invited to become part of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB)’s Member’s Advisory Group. Together with his team Ed has helped many clients to secure the funding they require and welcomes the opportunity to discuss your funding requirements in confidence.