Wol Kolade

Examiner
DISC Type : cs

Managing Partner at Livingbridge

London, England, United Kingdom

Overview

Wol Kolade is the Managing Partner at Livingbridge, a leading private equity firm in the UK mid-market. He holds a BEng from Kings College London and an MBA from the University of Exeter. Colleagues describe him as a talented entrepreneur and manager known for his differentiated deal sourcing and value creation capabilities.

Outside of his primary role, Wol is deeply involved in public service and not-for-profit organizations, particularly in healthcare, education, and culture. He is passionate about social impact and serves as the Deputy Chair of NHS England. His personal interests include rugby, a sport he played at university.

In 2021, Wol was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the financial services industry.

Personality Overview

Status Quo Seeker

Late Adopter

Overcautious

They are always well-planned and adopt a systematic approach.  They do not like taking risks at all and go for proven options in the end. The only way to convince them is by showing them examples and ample proof.

Topics They Care About

Private Equity Leadership
As Managing Partner, he has built a unique and leading franchise in the UK mid-market, generating a top-quartile track record.
Healthcare Governance
His role as Deputy Chair of NHS England demonstrates a significant commitment to the governance and strategy of national public health.
Diversity in Finance
Serves as an Advisory Board Member at Level 20, an organization dedicated to improving gender diversity in the private equity industry.

Media Appearances

Wol Kolade: Founder & Managing Partner, Livingbridge. Featured in Boardwave

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Video: Managing partner Wol Kolade explains what is Livingbridge. Featured in Daily Mail

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Livingbridge boss Wol Kolade on the NHS. Featured in Private Equity News

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Work History

1-1993
Managing Partner at Livingbridge
8-2025
Member at Honours Diversity and Outreach Committee
2-2025
Member at Health and Social Care Honours Committee
9-2019
Advisory Board Member at Level 20
3-2022 - 3-2025
Deputy Chair at NHS England

Education

9-1989 - 9-1990
MBA from University of Exeter
1985 - 1988
Bachelor of Engineering - BEng from King's College London

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 32 Location : London, England, United Kingdom Job Level : N/A Designation : Managing Partner at Livingbridge
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Insights For Selling To Wol

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Expect them to be slow and cautious, encourage them to ask more questions
  • Be firm in your communication and stay in control
  • Expect them to be vague in response to your questions, ask firmly and pointedly

DONT's

  • Don't push them too hard to make fast decisions, give them time
  • Don't be very accepting if that is your natural style, stay firm
  • Don't use phrases like 'do not worry', 'i promise' etc.

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Wol is

  • For them, low risk and acceptance by others are very important, followed by proof of ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Wol

  • They are unlikely to say no, it's better to stop yourself once you have exhausted all the options.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Wol move?

  • They do not like to take decisions in a hurry, so they could be slow in making their mind up.
  • Can Wol take some risk or not?

  • They are low on risk-appetite and prefer to make informed decisions.

You And Wol

Personality Compatibility


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