Onside | Page 10

ONSIDE / OPINION THE TIES THAT BIND Melanie Hird, Seneca Investments Melanie Hird writes here on the challenges of family businesses. As Director of Seneca Investments, Melanie sources and executes deals involving SMEs – managing an investment portfolio and investor relations together with driving the strategy for the businesses. Melanie joined Seneca in 2011 after a career in restructuring and turnaround markets that started at Ernst and Young at the age of just 17. In 2004 Melanie joined Kroll – global leader in risk mitigation to focus on corporate assignments within the national and international markets – becoming the youngest member of its management team and the youngest person to gain an Insolvency License at that time. 10