We are a close-knit team of decision makers who invest our own capital in every deal. Our portfolio is actively owned and operationally led.
Meet the Team
MANAGING PARTNER
Roy Merritt
Roy has more than twenty years experience of investing in and managing growing businesses.
He has worked with leading firms including Apax, where he started his private equity career, Providence Equity, Amadeus Capital Partners, and was co-head of Deutsche Bank Capital's growth private equity business with Michael.
Roy also has operational experience, acting as CFO of Esprit Telecom PLC between 1994 and 1998 where he was instrumental in its growth from $5 million to $250 million of revenue and a successful exit to GTS.
He was non-Executive Chairman of Axon Group PLC, a FTSE-250 listed business transformation consultancy firm until its sale to HCL Group for £440 million in 2008. He began his career at McKinsey & Company.
In 2008, Roy co-founded Oakfield Capital with Michael.
Roy holds an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD, and received his first degree in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University.
MANAGING PARTNER
Michael Patton
Michael has held a number of senior positions in the Private Equity and Investment Banking industries.
Prior to founding Oakfield with Roy, Michael was CEO of the J. Rothschild family office, responsible for the commercial oversight of Lord Rothschild’s investments, with a particular focus on his private market deals.
Previously, he was co head (with Roy) of the growth private equity business at Deutsche Bank and a director (with Roy) at Providence Equity Partners.
Michael also worked in M&A advisory at Morgan Stanley within the Engineering, Healthcare and Real Estate groups.
Michael has a first class MA in Electronic and Information Engineering from Cambridge University and an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD.
INVESTMENT PARTNER / CFO
Alex Bezugly
Alex has 20 years of private equity and venture capital experience. Prior to joining Oakfield, he was CEO of Alfa Capital Partners, a private equity firm with $300m of investments in Eastern Europe.
Alex worked as Director of private equity for Lord Jacob Rothschild at First Arrow and RIT Capital Partners. Prior to joining RIT, Alex worked in private equity / growth capital at Lehman Brothers.
Alex began his career with the Creditanstalt Investment Bank in New York.
Alex was a scholar of the Soros Foundation at the LSE and received a BA in Economics with distinction from Moscow State University.
COMPLIANCE
Diana Ruiz
Diana joined Oakfield Capital in January 2018 and is involved in compliance matters. Prior to joining Oakfield, Diana was Investor Relations Manager at Union Group, a private equity firm, with $2bn of AUM investing in LATAM.
She held various positions at a private equity owned fintech. She has also held consultancy and research roles. She began her career at the Colombian Stock Exchange.
Diana holds an MSc in Corporate Finance from Henley Business School and a BSc in Economics and Finance from Sergio Arboleda University in Bogotá, Colombia.