Get to know Elevare’s experienced, hands-on operational experts, with a proven track record of building and scaling vertical software businesses.
David Lockie
Chief Executive Officer
David Lockie is CEO of Elevare Software Group, where he sets Group strategy and partners with founders and management teams to build category-leading software businesses.
With 25+ years of leadership experience across technology and operations, he has contributed to 50+ acquisitions, with a strong focus on accelerating growth, enabling transformation, and building high-performing, connected teams.
Before founding Elevare, David was Chief Operating Officer at IRIS Software Group, following roles as Chief Revenue Officer and Chief Customer Officer. During his seven-year tenure, he led significant business transformation and functional alignment, provided strategic leadership to Managing Directors and integrated 30+ acquisitions. He also strengthened customer sentiment and employee engagement through scalable playbooks underpinned by enhanced systems, data, and AI, contributing to a $4 billion recapitalisation.
Earlier in his career, David spent two decades at Capita, including as Divisional Managing Director. During this time, he supported Managing Directors across software businesses serving the local government, social housing, social care, financial services, and payments sectors. He joined Capita through the acquisition of Imasys, which later became Pay360, a business he successfully led for many years.
David has also been an Operating Partner at Hg and currently holds a Non-Executive Director role at Azets Group.
Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with his children, hiking with his partner and their three dogs, travelling, exploring local cuisine, and supporting others to achieve their potential. He is also a big football fan, although he firmly refuses to reveal which team he supports.
Elona Mortimer-Zhika
Chair
Elona Mortimer-Zhika is Chair at Elevare Software Group, working closely with the Board to shape strategy and champion the Group’s ambition to build category-leading software businesses. With 25+ years’ experience across technology, finance, and operations, she is passionate about driving sustainable growth and transformational change.
Elona is an investor and board director of various private-equity-backed software and services businesses across Europe. Previously, she served as Chief Executive Officer of IRIS Software Group, where she led eight years of rapid expansion, culminating in a $4 billion exit and the successful integration of 30+ acquisitions. In recognition of her impact, Elona was named CEO of the Year at the UK Tech Awards 2023.
She holds a First-Class Honours degree in Accounting and Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales.
Born in communist Albania, Elona won a scholarship at the age of 16 to attend an international college in Wales, studying alongside students from 100+ countries. This life-changing experience fuels her commitment to social impact, mentorship, and expanding access to opportunity for under-represented and under-privileged communities. Elona is Chair of the Tech Advisory Board of the Hg Foundation, which aims to catalyse 100k opportunities by 2027 to strengthen the tech talent pipeline across Europe and North America.
Outside work, Elona enjoys spending time with her family, being a football mum, Disney holidays and karaoke – although, by her own admission, her friends don’t seem to enjoy her singing.
Jon Peart leads value creation at Elevare Software Group, driving growth and scaling operations across the portfolio. With 20+ years’ experience in B2B software across the FinTech, EdTech, and GovTech sectors, he specialises in commercial transformation, go-to-market strategy and performance improvement, helping management teams realise lasting enterprise value.
Jon Peart
Value Creation
Jon Peart leads value creation at Elevare Software Group, driving growth and scaling operations across the portfolio. With 20+ years’ experience in B2B software across the FinTech, EdTech, and GovTech sectors, he specialises in commercial transformation, go-to-market strategy and performance improvement, helping management teams realise lasting enterprise value.
Jon previously served as Managing Director at MRI Software following its acquisition of Capita One. Earlier in his career, he spent more than two decades at Capita in senior roles including Director of Housing and Chief Technology Officer, supporting digital transformation programmes for local authorities and housing associations.
He also holds an MBA and is a Chartered Manager Fellow.
Outside of work, Jon enjoys spending time with his family, trying (and usually failing) to beat his son at golf, and making the most of his private pilot’s licence.
Emma Rudd specialises in organisational design, reward innovation, and creating engaging workplace cultures. With 20+ years of global HR experience across private equity-backed technology and data-led organisations, she leads Elevare Software Groups’ people and culture strategy, working closely with portfolio businesses to strengthen leadership capability and build high-performing, inclusive teams.
Emma Rudd
People and Culture
Emma Rudd specialises in organisational design, reward innovation, and creating engaging workplace cultures. With 20+ years of global HR experience across private equity-backed technology and data-led organisations, she leads Elevare Software Groups’ people and culture strategy, working closely with portfolio businesses to strengthen leadership capability and build high-performing, inclusive teams.
Emma previously served as VP People at Disguise Technologies, where she supported a significant period of international expansion. Earlier in her career, she held Group HR Director roles at data analytics businesses Future Thinking and Gemseek.
She holds an LLM in Employment Law and is a trained leadership and systems coach.
Outside of work, Emma enjoys comedy improvisation, theatre and the arts.
Charlie Pickering has 30+ years experience in private equity-backed organisations. He leads technology strategy at Elevare Software Group, supporting portfolio businesses to build resilient, scalable platforms. He specialises in engineering transformation, product modernisation, cloud platform delivery, and unlocking greater value from data and emerging AI capabilities.
Charlie Pickering
Technology
Charlie Pickering has 30+ years experience in private equity-backed organisations. He leads technology strategy at Elevare Software Group, supporting portfolio businesses to build resilient, scalable platforms. He specialises in engineering transformation, product modernisation, cloud platform delivery, and unlocking greater value from data and emerging AI capabilities.
Charlie previously held Chief Technology Officer roles at Causeway Technologies and IRIS Software Group. At Causeway, he led the transition to a unified, cloud-native platform and oversaw the successful integration of six acquisitions. At IRIS, he delivered technical strategy across 40+ products, helping drive the migration from legacy systems to modern, high-performance architectures.
He also serves as a Technical Advisor to Livingbridge’s Software Advisory Board.
Outside of work, Charlie stays active through rugby and the gym. Having grown up on a farm, he enjoys any opportunity to spend time outdoors.
Darren Hart heads finance strategy at Elevare Software Group, partnering with portfolio businesses to drive performance, execute value-accretive M&A, and deliver strong investor returns. He brings 25+ years’ experience working with private equity-backed technology businesses, with expertise in fundraising, transaction execution, financial transformation, and supporting leadership teams through high-growth and exit journeys.
Darren Hart
Finance
Darren Hart heads finance strategy at Elevare Software Group, partnering with portfolio businesses to drive performance, execute value-accretive M&A, and deliver strong investor returns. He brings 25+ years’ experience working with private equity-backed technology businesses, with expertise in fundraising, transaction execution, financial transformation, and supporting leadership teams through high-growth and exit journeys.
Darren has held senior finance roles across multiple sectors, including supply chain, telecommunications, logistics, and education. Most recently, he supported the successful exit of Lineup Systems, backed by Northern Venture Managers, to a US trade buyer. Previously, as Portfolio Finance Director at Capita, he led three acquisitions and a business exit across payments, local government, and mortgage origination.
Outside of work, Darren swaps spreadsheets for gravel and road cycling, backs Leicester Tigers Rugby Club, and proudly cheers on his son from the Colts touchline.
Sabah Chohan leads our communications and brand strategy at Elevare Software Group, shaping how the business builds reputation, creates influence, and connects with the audiences that matter most. With 12+ years’ experience across B2B technology and SaaS, she works closely with leadership to ensure strategic storytelling supports growth, strengthens market positioning, and builds lasting stakeholder trust.
Sabah Chohan
Communications and Brand
Sabah Chohan leads our communications and brand strategy at Elevare Software Group, shaping how the business builds reputation, creates influence, and connects with the audiences that matter most. With 12+ years’ experience across B2B technology and SaaS, she works closely with leadership to ensure strategic storytelling supports growth, strengthens market positioning, and builds lasting stakeholder trust.
Sabah previously managed executive profiling, public relations, social media, influencer marketing, and podcast development at IRIS Software Group. She also supported communications for 30+ acquisitions spanning accountancy, education, and human capital management. Earlier in her career at ArvatoConnect, she delivered internal communications programmes and industry events for local government and retail customers.
Outside of work, Sabah enjoys travelling and mountaineering, having completed treks to Everest Base Camp, Kilimanjaro, and Mount Toubkal.
Ellis Hindle supports M&A at Elevare Software Group, helping source, evaluate, and execute acquisition opportunities across the portfolio. He brings eight years’ experience working in high-growth, private equity-backed SaaS businesses, with a strong focus on platform expansion, integration, and value creation.
Ellis Hindle
Mergers and Acquisitions
Ellis Hindle supports M&A at Elevare Software Group, helping source, evaluate, and execute acquisition opportunities across the portfolio. He brings eight years’ experience working in high-growth, private equity-backed SaaS businesses, with a strong focus on platform expansion, integration, and value creation.
Most recently, Ellis held strategy and business transformation roles at Infinity, where he helped build key functions to support growth. Previously, he spent five years at IRIS Software Group, working across sales, commercial delivery, and corporate development. During this time, he played a key role in expanding the Managed Services division through acquisition and strategic development, helping scale the function into a £50m+ turnover business.
Outside of work, Ellis is a keen sports fan and Manchester United season ticket holder, is currently taking flying lessons, and enjoys DIY projects.
If you run a software company and are considering your next chapter, we’d love to hear from you.
enquiries@elevaresoftware.com