Seonaid Mackenzie is the founder of Sturgeon Ventures, the award-winning firm she established in 1998 as a single-family office. From its inception, the company embraced its role as a Venture Catalyst, incubating businesses and nurturing entrepreneurial talent. Over the years, Sturgeon Ventures has become a specialist in developing both financial services brands and individual professionals.

In December 2001, Seonaid pioneered the concept of Regulatory Incubation, an innovative model enabling individuals to become approved persons under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) following its transition from the SFA and IMRO, now the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).  In 2005, she created the first wholesale Appointed Representative (AR) firm - now widely recognised in the wholesale industry as Regulatory Hosting, supporting both emerging UK businesses and overseas entrants.

Seonaid began her career in financial services in 1985, spending 13 years as a US Equity Institutional Stockbroker with leading firms.  In 1995, she launched the UK’s first paid independent research product, Off the Record Research, funded through Commission Sharing Agreements (CSA).  She has since worked extensively as a corporate finance adviser, leading numerous M&A transactions and capital-raising initiatives.  In 2007, she earned the Corporate Finance Qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and has served as both Compliance Officer and MLRO.

As a Portfolio Manager, she sits on internal Investment Committees, personally advising and managing multiple family office portfolios.  She has also served on the boards of onshore and offshore funds and is a member of Sturgeon’s Finance and Management Committee.

Since 24 September 2008, Seonaid has been a Citizen and Freeman of the City of London.