Helix loses Norton to Englefield

Clive Norton, formerly a managing director within the placement agent Jefferies Helix, has left the firm to join European mid-market private equity firm Englefield Captial as an adviser.

London-based Englefield closed its most recent fund in 2007 on a little more than €1 billion.

Norton had been a managing director at Jefferies Helix in London since January 2007. He joined the placement group, which was at that point was called Helix Associates, to bolster its capabilities in the European and Asian markets. At the time he described Helix as being at an “exciting stage” in its development.

Helix Associates was acquired by Jefferies Group, the New York-based investment banking group, in 2005 and recently changed its name to Jefferies Helix. It counts among its clients such firms as Actis, The Riverside Company and Silverfleet Capital.

Two market sources said Norton’s departure had to do with Helix’s integration into the US investment bank. “When he left Goldman, I think he wanted more of a boutique model,” said one source.

Norton could not immediately be reached for comment.

Prior to Helix, Norton was Goldman Sachs’ co-head of the European operations for five years. Before that, he worked for Merrill Lynch, where he was latterly a managing director within the private equity group.

Jefferies Helix and Englefield Capital did not respond for requests for comment.

Amanda Janis contributed to this report.