Palatine Strengthens Impact Team With Award-Winning New Hire

We have appointed Jihad Karambizi as Investment Manager in our Impact team.

Jihad joins us with experience spanning audit, corporate finance, and M&A advisory across the UK and South Africa.

He began his career in audit in South Africa, working with businesses across the retail, construction, life sciences, media, manufacturing and consumer goods sectors. After moving to the UK, he continued his audit career at BDO before transitioning into the firm’s M&A team, where he specialised in the healthcare, life sciences, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Most recently, Jihad spent two and a half years in the M&A team at Kreston Reeves, where he progressed to Associate Director, and led transactions across a range of sectors including construction, education, and business services, with a focus on the lower mid-market.

Among the transactions Jihad is most proud of are supporting the main shareholder of The Brewery on Chiswell Street in London on his exit and advising the shareholders of WW Martin on its sale to a management buyout team. His hands-on approach and commitment to seeing transactions through to completion were recognised when he won the Emerging Dealmaker Award at South East Business Insider’s 2026 Dealmaker Awards.

In his new role, Jihad will work closely with management teams as part of the Impact team, with his remit spanning beyond London to include Manchester and other regions.

Alongside his new role as Investment Manager, Jihad is studying part-time for a Master’s in Finance at London Business School. Outside of work, he has completed the Bloukrans Bridge bungee jump, one of the world’s highest commercial bridge bungee jumps, and gone gorilla trekking in Rwanda, where his family are from. His curiosity and appetite for new challenges are qualities he also brings to his work with businesses and management teams.

Jihad Karambizi said: “I’m incredibly excited to join Palatine at such a key time for the Impact team. This role gives me the opportunity to build long-term relationships with ambitious management teams, support them through the next stage of their growth, and contribute to businesses delivering meaningful social and environmental impact. It’s a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference.

“The best investment decisions come from remaining curious, listening carefully, and developing a genuine understanding of the people and businesses you are backing. I’m looking forward to bringing that approach to Palatine and working alongside the team and its portfolio companies.”

Beth Houghton, Partner and Head of the Impact Fund at Palatine, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to welcome Jihad to the Impact team. His breadth of experience across audit, M&A advisory, and transaction execution gives him a strong grounding to support our portfolio companies as they scale.

“Jihad’s appointment comes at an exciting time for the Impact Fund as we continue to back commercially driven businesses that are making a genuine difference to communities and the environment.”