Allele is a private equity fund which is investing in healthcare and medical innovation companies world-wide. Enabling private investors to channel their money in ventures that will not only bring financial return, it also makes a difference for millions of people in need of healthcare and medical support. This combination of astute financial planning and social commitment is exemplified in the two women behind Allele Fund.
The founders of Allele are Dr Gail Lese and Cherie Blair. Lese came to prominence both as a candidate running for the US-Senate in 2004, as well as a fund manager, leading the $ 100 million Fidelity Fund to a successful return. A medical doctor with a track record of community involvement and volunteer work, Lese also holds an MBA from Harvard, giving her both insight into the healthcare sector, as well as into the world of finance. Within Allele, Lese works as Chief Executive Officer and Portfolio Manager.
Like Lese, co-founder Cherie Blair has been actively involved in charitable ventures for considerable time. Beside her time-consuming work as a barrister, Blair founded the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women which focusses on empowering women in developing countries. With her professional specialisation in medical law and her widely-recognised commitment to humanitarian issues, Blairs involvement in an equity fund focussing on healthcare companies was a logical consequence.
Allele Fund is aiming to raise £75m to build 100 private health centres across the United Kingdom. To this date, the fund has successfully accumulated £5m and recently provided funding for the opening of the third mee healthcare centre in Cheltenham, Surrey.