Fundraising Fox

Ian Banks

Investor

Chief Financial Officer at Imbiba

United Kingdom

About

Ian Banks joined Imbiba as a Partner and CFO in 2025, bringing over 25 years of operational experience with multi-site private equity-backed companies in the leisure, hospitality, and wellness sectors. A Chartered Accountant trained at PWC, he previously served as Finance Director of Spirit Group and Group CFO at Soho House, and co-founded and was CFO of the tech platform Sessions. At Imbiba he oversees the firm's financial and regulatory functions.

LinkedIn ↗

Experience

  1. PickleballEnglandNED National Boardcurrent2026 — present
  2. ImbibaPartnercurrent2025 — present
  3. SessionsBoard Directorcurrent2020 — present
  4. SessionsCo-founder & Chief Financial Officer2020 — 2025
  5. Upham InnsNon Executive Directorcurrent2025 — present
  6. McLarenBanksCompany Ownercurrent2019 — present
  7. Shelter HallCo-Founder & Owner2020 — 2025Brighton, England, United Kingdom
  8. Camm and HooperFinance Director2019 — 2021London, United Kingdom
  9. SWEAT! GYMSInterim CFO2019
  10. WE ARE BAR GROUP LtdCEO & Co-Owners2017 — 2019London, United Kingdom
  11. WE ARE BAR GROUP LtdCFO & Co-Owner2015 — 2019London, United Kingdom
  12. Soho House & CoGroup Global CFO2013 — 2015London
  13. Barracuda Pub CompanyHead of Finance2010 — 2013
  14. Lloyds Banking GroupInterim Finance Partner2009 — 2010
  15. Memorable Pubs LimitedCo-founder & Director2005 — 2009
  16. Spirit Pub Company (previously Punch Retail and Allied Domecq)Head of Finance & Strategy1998 — 2004
  17. PricewaterhouseCoopersAssistant Audit Manager1994 — 1998

Education

  1. Price Waterhouse ACA
  2. Loughborough UniversityBSc, Recreation Management1991 — 1994
  3. Loughborough University
  4. Loughborough University

Skills & more

Forecasting18Financial Reporting7Financial Modeling7Financial Analysis13Planning Budgeting & Forecasting5Project Management6Covenant Compliance2KPI Reports2Project Appraisal1Interim Management Services2Restructuring6Acquisitions2
+12 moreHospitalityMulti-Site OperationsChange ManagementCash-flow focusStakeholder ManagementManagementMergers & AcquisitionsFinanceStrategyStrategic PlanningLeadershipXero

From Ian's professional profile.

Same school

Also attended Loughborough University43

Abbie RobusAssociate Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersDiane WalkerHead of Group Finance & Operations at Mayfair Equity PartnersAlasdair MitchellPortfolio Support at Giant Ventures Global LlpDiana KoziarskaManaging Partner at SMOK VenturesPetri LaineVenture Partner, Innovestor Venture Capital at Innovestor VenturesNeil WillcocksFood Science, Technology and Innovation Specialist at SUPPLY CHANGE CAPITAL

+ 37 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Soho House & Co7

Hamish GarnettAssociate at Manta Ray VenturesDeeps De SilvaAdvisor at Artichoke CapitalMary DoctorEvents Coordinator at Lofty VenturesMalia ProbstCo-founder and Investor at WXR FundTonjé Bakang TonjePartner at Orange DAODujon SmithPartner at proChain Ventures

+ 1 more

Also worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers906

David PhuController at Felicis VenturesTianen LiangTax Controller at Felicis VenturesJanet WolpertInvestor at Index VenturesAryo TehranianManaging Director at Mayfair Equity PartnersAne Tolnes HaugdalInvestor at InvestinorEgilInvestor at Investinor

+ 900 more

Investments

Board seats

Upham Inns

Per the firm's website.

Colleagues at Imbiba

Andrew Guest
Investment Associate at Imbiba
Andrew Maxwell
Operating Partner at Imbiba
Brian Phillips
Partner & Chairman of Investment Committee at Imbiba
Dame Karen Jones DBE
Chairperson of Hawksmoor, Non-Executive Director of Deliveroo & Whitbread and Senior Government Advisor at Imbiba
Darrel Connell
Managing Partner at Imbiba
David McDowell
CEO of Stonegate Pub Company at Imbiba
Heidi Duckworth
Operating Partner at Imbiba
John Connell
Partner & Co-founder at Imbiba