Prior to 3i, Wilton spent eight years at Hemscott, having joined as CEO in 1999. She remains chairman of the company, which has been renamed Ipreo since merging with US-based i-Deal. Previously, Wilton was managing director of Reuters Transaction Services and a member of Reuters Executive Committee, and before that spent more than 15 years in the financial markets.
She is currently a non-executive director of Optos and previously held non-executive positions at Liffe, Scottish Widows’ Fund and Life Assurance Society.
3i’s media investments include Yellow Brick Road, a directories business sold to a consortium for €1.83bn (US$2.67bn) in May 2005, generating a 4.2 times money multiple; VNU Business Media Recruitment; web media business DemandMedia; and online real estate listings business SeLoger.com, which was floated last December after receiving a €60m investment from 3i in November 2005.
Earlier last week, 3i added to its Chorion portfolio company. The UK-based owner of literary-based brands such as Mr Men and Noddy, acquired The Copyrights Group, which owns the Beatrix Potter and Paddington Bear characters, for an undisclosed sum.