What we bring
Huge experience of generating business growth, rewards and enjoyment
A record of successfully growing enterprises
A strategy formulation and execution toolbox
Resource prioritisation, focus
Performance improvement
Coaching, mentoring and support
Private capital for growth and ‘de-risking’
A network of contacts across all sectors
Value realisation and enhancement
Who We Are
Three highly experienced, driven business friends, buoyed by the buzz of feeding off each other and enjoying success together
Chris Cole
Founder
- When the sandwich business quickly failed, I went to college!
- After working at Johnson & Johnson to learn about sales and marketing I joined the team that launched Hydrogen – a radically different recruitment business we built and floated on the Stock Market within 10 years
- Over the following decade I invested in, and grew, Bionic with Jon. Along the way I’ve challenged myself and those around me, had a lot of fun and garnered awards such as Sunday Times Best Company, Virgin Fast Track, and Ernst and Young Entrepreneur
- By nature I tend to be the results and execution-focused one
- I loved hearing that the team at Bionic were able to put down house deposits and help their families through realising share options. It’s what building businesses is all about – creating freedom and flexibility.
I don’t do egos: I love being part of a trusting team, and helping people build companies. I’m also a great believer in long-term relationships: Martyn was one of my first clients in recruitment, Jonathan and I were friends from college, and I remain close to the Hydrogen crew.
Jonathan Elliott
Founder
Fascinated by business from an early age, I started my first (questionable) enterprise at school! I established my first proper company in the ‘dotcom’ boom, after six years in various sales and marketing roles at BT…
- Since then I’ve led 9 businesses: some thrived and a couple failed. If only I’d known then what I know now…
- Most recently, with Chris, I transformed Bionic (originally branded Make it Cheaper) from a back bedroom into an all singing, all dancing, private equity-funded ‘fastrack, profit track’ business
- Having now established a great management team at Bionic, I’m hugely excited about working with Chris and Martyn at 40Fathoms. We’ll use our funds, time and experience to invest in entrepreneurs and management teams to build the next generation of tomorrow’s ‘pin-up’ businesses
- I love commercial challenges, problem-solving, and helping people unlock their potential. I believe in the art of the possible, and am passionate about the power of goals and the importance of goodwill and karma.
Guided by the principle of meritocracy, I believe that anyone, given the right focus, can achieve success. As someone who wasn’t your typical A-grade student, this means a lot to me, even if some of my teachers didn’t believe in it!
Martyn Phillips
Founder
I grew up with the ambition of playing rugby for Wales but, at 19, suffered a career-ending injury that largely shaped who I am today. My business drive developed during my long association with the Kingfisher group…
- Starting in Fishguard, my journey has taken me and my wife along the M4 through Cardiff, Swindon, Reading, and finally London, where I met Chris nearly 30 years ago
I never did get to play for Wales, but came as close as I could without actually pulling on the red jersey! 40Fathoms is the perfect next challenge for me to dive into: it’s now about giving back, helping people fulfil their potential, and working with businesses I would be happy for my family to one day be a part of.
Relationship builders
By building strong relationships, we help create award-winning businesses
Contact Us
Do you believe your oyster has genuine pearl potential?
To dip your toes and test the water at 40Fathoms, email us at [email protected]
What we bring
Huge experience of generating business growth, rewards and enjoyment
A record of successfully growing enterprises
A strategy formulation and execution toolbox
Resource prioritisation, focus
Performance improvement
Coaching, mentoring and support
Private capital for growth and ‘de-risking’
A network of contacts across all sectors
Value realisation and enhancement
Who We Are
Three highly experienced, driven business friends, buoyed by the buzz of feeding off each other and enjoying success together
Chris Cole
Founder
Growing up, I soon realised that I wanted to build companies that my family would be proud of, and would generate freedom and flexibility through wealth creation. It all began at 16 with a sandwich delivery business…
- When the sandwich business quickly failed, I went to college!
- After working at Johnson & Johnson to learn about sales and marketing I joined the team that launched Hydrogen – a radically different recruitment business we built and floated on the Stock Market within 10 years
- Over the following decade I invested in, and grew, Bionic with Jon. Along the way I’ve challenged myself and those around me, had a lot of fun and garnered awards such as Sunday Times Best Company, Virgin Fast Track, and Ernst and Young Entrepreneur
- By nature I tend to be the results and execution-focused one
- I loved hearing that the team at Bionic were able to put down house deposits and help their families through realising share options. It’s what building businesses is all about – creating freedom and flexibility.
I don’t do egos: I love being part of a trusting team, and helping people build companies. I’m also a great believer in long-term relationships: Martyn was one of my first clients in recruitment, Jonathan and I were friends from college, and I remain close to the Hydrogen crew.
Jonathan Elliott
Founder
Fascinated by business from an early age, I started my first (questionable) enterprise at school! I established my first proper company in the ‘dotcom’ boom, after six years in various sales and marketing roles at BT…
- Since then I’ve led 9 businesses: some thrived and a couple failed. If only I’d known then what I know now…
- Most recently, with Chris, I transformed Bionic (originally branded Make it Cheaper) from a back bedroom into an all singing, all dancing, private equity-funded ‘fastrack, profit track’ busines
- Having now established a great management team at Bionic, I’m hugely excited about working with Chris and Martyn at 40Fathoms. We’ll use our funds, time and experience to invest in entrepreneurs and management teams to build the next generation of tomorrow’s ‘pin-up’ businesses
- I love commercial challenges, problem-solving, and helping people unlock their potential. I believe in the art of the possible, and am passionate about the power of goals and the importance of goodwill and karma.
Guided by the principle of meritocracy, I believe that anyone, given the right focus, can achieve success. As someone who wasn’t your typical A-grade student, this means a lot to me, even if some of my teachers didn’t believe in it!
Martyn Phillips
Founder
I grew up with the ambition of playing rugby for Wales but, at 19, suffered a career-ending injury that largely shaped who I am today. My business drive developed during my long association with the Kingfisher group…
- Starting in Fishguard, my journey has taken me and my wife along the M4 through Cardiff, Swindon, Reading, and finally London, where I met Chris nearly 30 years ago
- During 20 years with the Kingfisher Group, I eventually worked my way up to CEO for B&Q
- In 2005 I helped Chris start up Hydrogen (business recruitment), where I was a non-executive director until 2015
- In 2013 I met Jon and, along with Chris, proudly helped to grow Bionic, using some of the tools that are key to the 40Fathoms methodology
- In 2015 I joined the Welsh Rugby Union as CEO, also sitting on the board of the British and Irish Lions and Six Nations Rugby
- I’m very big on loyalty, wherever my involvement: when I’m in, I’m in!
I never did get to play for Wales, but came as close as I could without actually pulling on the red jersey! 40Fathoms is the perfect next challenge for me to dive into: it’s now about giving back, helping people fulfil their potential, and working with businesses I would be happy for my family to one day be a part of.
Relationship builders
By building strong relationships, we help create award-winning businesses
Contact Us
Do you believe your oyster has genuine pearl potential?
To dip your toes and test the water at 40Fathoms, email us at [email protected]
What we bring
Huge experience of generating business growth, rewards and enjoyment
A record of successfully growing enterprises
A strategy formulation and execution toolbox
Resource prioritisation, focus
Performance improvement
Coaching, mentoring and support
Private capital for growth and ‘de-risking’
A network of contacts across all sectors
Value realisation and enhancement
Who We Are
Three highly experienced, driven business friends, buoyed by the buzz of feeding off each other and enjoying success together
Chris Cole
Founder
Growing up, I soon realised that I wanted to build companies that my family would be proud of, and would generate freedom and flexibility through wealth creation. It all began at 16 with a sandwich delivery business…
- When the sandwich business quickly failed, I went to college!
- After working at Johnson & Johnson to learn about sales and marketing I joined the team that launched Hydrogen – a radically different recruitment business we built and floated on the Stock Market within 10 years
- Over the following decade I invested in, and grew, Bionic with Jon. Along the way I’ve challenged myself and those around me, had a lot of fun and garnered awards such as Sunday Times Best Company, Virgin Fast Track, and Ernst and Young Entrepreneur
- By nature I tend to be the results and execution-focused one
- I loved hearing that the team at Bionic were able to put down house deposits and help their families through realising share options. It’s what building businesses is all about – creating freedom and flexibility.
I don’t do egos: I love being part of a trusting team, and helping people build companies. I’m also a great believer in long-term relationships: Martyn was one of my first clients in recruitment, Jonathan and I were friends from college, and I remain close to the Hydrogen crew.
Jonathan Elliott
Founder
Fascinated by business from an early age, I started my first (questionable) enterprise at school! I established my first proper company in the ‘dotcom’ boom, after six years in various sales and marketing roles at BT…
- Since then I’ve led 9 businesses: some thrived and a couple failed. If only I’d known then what I know now…
- Most recently, with Chris, I transformed Bionic (originally branded Make it Cheaper) from a back bedroom into an all singing, all dancing, private equity-funded ‘fastrack, profit track’ busines
- Having now established a great management team at Bionic, I’m hugely excited about working with Chris and Martyn at 40Fathoms. We’ll use our funds, time and experience to invest in entrepreneurs and management teams to build the next generation of tomorrow’s ‘pin-up’ businesses
- I love commercial challenges, problem-solving, and helping people unlock their potential. I believe in the art of the possible, and am passionate about the power of goals and the importance of goodwill and karma.
Guided by the principle of meritocracy, I believe that anyone, given the right focus, can achieve success. As someone who wasn’t your typical A-grade student, this means a lot to me, even if some of my teachers didn’t believe in it!
Martyn Phillips
Founder
I grew up with the ambition of playing rugby for Wales but, at 19, suffered a career-ending injury that largely shaped who I am today. My business drive developed during my long association with the Kingfisher group…
- Starting in Fishguard, my journey has taken me and my wife along the M4 through Cardiff, Swindon, Reading, and finally London, where I met Chris nearly 30 years ago
- During 20 years with the Kingfisher Group, I eventually worked my way up to CEO for B&Q
- In 2005 I helped Chris start up Hydrogen (business recruitment), where I was a non-executive director until 2015
- In 2013 I met Jon and, along with Chris, proudly helped to grow Bionic, using some of the tools that are key to the 40Fathoms methodology
- In 2015 I joined the Welsh Rugby Union as CEO, also sitting on the board of the British and Irish Lions and Six Nations Rugby
- I’m very big on loyalty, wherever my involvement: when I’m in, I’m in!
I never did get to play for Wales, but came as close as I could without actually pulling on the red jersey! 40Fathoms is the perfect next challenge for me to dive into: it’s now about giving back, helping people fulfil their potential, and working with businesses I would be happy for my family to one day be a part of.
Relationship builders
By building strong relationships, we help create award-winning businesses