Global private equity firm 3i has strengthened its growth capital business team by bringing Rupert Bell onboard.

Global private equity firm 3i has strengthened its growth capital business team by bringing Rupert Bell onboard.

After Bell earned his stripes as a chartered accountant at Arthur Andersen, the 38-year-old moved to shipping giant P&O where he worked on the IPO of Bovis Homes as well as the sales of P&O Oilfield Services and P&O Tankships.

He moved to Sand Aire Private Equity in 1997, swiftly moving up the ranks to become a director. Seven years later, Bell took a short study sabbatical at Oxford University, but remained a non-executive director of the business until summer 2005, shortly before it was successfully sold to Dunedin.

From autumn 2005 until recently, he was self-employed, acting as consultant to a number of smaller businesses.