US-born Francis spent his early career as CFO of several large companies. Previously a turnaround specialist, he is characteristically direct about the benefits of a financial background in this line of work. You need a crystal-clear view of where you want to be and an obsession with control, he says – things that come naturally to accountants. But his career took a different turn when he was approached by P2i.
P2i Ltd, the world leader in liquid-repellent nano-coating technology, has raised £4.1 million ($6.7 million), from new and existing shareholders, to support its accelerating commercialisation and international growth.
A company spun out of the Ministry of Defence to commercialise a waterproofing process that can be used on everything from hiking boots to hearing aids has raised £4.1m for expansion. Oxford-based P2i’s liquid-repelling technology is being backed by Swarraton Partners and Naxos Capital Partners.
P2i has doubled the size of its office and laboratory complex at Milton Park, Abingdon, in response to the fast-growing international adoption of its revolutionary nanoscopic liquid repellency technology.