Jonathan Tudor has left Centrica to become investment partner at the government-backed Clean Growth Fund, aiming to find and develop early stage clean tech companies.

Tudor was technology & strategy director at Centrica Innovations and has covered similar ground for BP Ventures, QinetiQ and CG Innovation Partners.

Government launched the fund last May, seeding it with £20m. That was matched by CCLA, the public sector and charity investment manager.

Tudor said the fund “has sparked a huge response from clean tech businesses from across the UK, as well as interest from institutional investors”. He relishes “the difficult but enviable task of investing in the most promising companies that offer our current and future investors a good return, and deliver long-lasting benefits to UK plc.”

Clean Growth Fund managing partner, Beverley Gower-Jones, who worked at QinetiQ at the same time as Tudor, said his venture capital experience on both sides of the Atlantic “will be invaluable as we invest in companies and secure new investment in the Fund”.

She added: “The work of the Clean Growth Fund is even more important as the UK emerges from Covid. A vibrant and dynamic clean-tech sector will deliver a stronger and more sustainable, low carbon economy.”