William Blair announced today the addition of Chris Bates as director in the firm’s Consumer Products & Services group. Based in London, Bates will provide comprehensive advisory support to European beauty, personal care, and consumer-health companies and financial sponsors that are focused on investment opportunities in those industries.
“Adding Chris further strengthens our European presence and our consumer M&A platform while enhancing the depth of our team,” said Stewart Licudi, head of European investment banking at William Blair. “He also brings extensive experience leading in-house corporate M&A strategy, which equips him to deliver sophisticated guidance to clients investing in the dynamic beauty, personal care, and consumer-health subsectors.”
Bates has more than 14 years of experience, most recently as director of M&A, strategy, and business partnerships, Europe, at leading consumer goods manufacturer Church & Dwight. In that role, Bates was responsible for developing and executing the company’s holistic M&A strategy, identifying target brands and integrating strategic acquisitions into the company’s portfolio. Previously, he was a director on the consumer team at Alantra in London and has held roles at Alantra, PwC, and Hamilton Bradshaw. Bates received his Bachelor of Arts degree with first-class honours from the University of Nottingham and is a chartered accountant.
“I’m thrilled to join William Blair and contribute to the firm’s strong growth in the U.K. and Europe,” Bates said. “William Blair is well respected in consumer products and services, notably in the beauty, personal care, and consumer-health categories, for leveraging its integrated investment banking platform, robust sector knowledge, and deep investor relationships—as well as its broad commitment to secure successful client outcomes.”
Bates is the latest in a series of senior hires by William Blair in Europe, including Daniel Nilsson as managing director in its Financial Sponsors Group in Stockholm earlier this month, Tim-Oliver Seidel as European secondaries lead in London, and Delaney Brown as senior director in the firm’s Private Capital Advisory team in London. William Blair today also announced the addition of João Fernandes in Madrid to expand the firm’s presence in southern Europe.
About William Blair Investment Banking
William Blair’s investment banking group enables corporations, financial sponsors, and owner/entrepreneurs around the world to achieve their growth, liquidity, and financing objectives. Drawing on the collective intellectual capital and deep sector expertise of a global team that reaches over 20 cities on four continents, the investment banking group brings a rigorous and innovative approach to corporate board advisory projects, mergers and acquisitions, and equity and debt financing. From July 2020 through June 2025, the team advised on more than $825 billion in completed transaction volume.
About William Blair
William Blair is the premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*
*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.