Paul Cocker
CEO and Co-founder
Paul Cocker, CEO & Co-Founder True. As CEO Paul oversees all aspects of True’s operations but has a particular focus on the private equity business. He has sat on the board of 12 high growth retail/ consumer businesses/brands over the last 18 years. He has particular expertise in digital retail and has been involved at board level across a wide spectrum of industry verticals including apparel, home, consumer technology, health & fitness and FMCG. Paul also leads True’s ESG initiatives which has included partnerships with the Centre for Social Justice, Universify, the Careers & Enterprise Company as well as driving True’s B-Corp Certification, which was achieved in 2021. —
overview
Paul Cocker, CEO & Co-Founder True. As CEO Paul oversees all aspects of True’s operations but has a particular focus on the private equity business. He has sat on the board of 12 high growth retail/ consumer businesses/brands over the last 18 years. He has particular expertise in digital retail and has been involved at board level across a wide spectrum of industry verticals including apparel, home, consumer technology, health & fitness and FMCG. Paul also leads True’s ESG initiatives which has included partnerships with the Centre for Social Justice, Universify, the Careers & Enterprise Company as well as driving True’s B-Corp Certification, which was achieved in 2021.
meet Paul
Why did you choose True?
I was never great at having a boss …
How would you describe your job to a five-year-old?
I help and encourage people to be better than they were yesterday.
What do you love most — and least — about your job?
I love the fact I care so much about what I do. I feel privileged to do what I do every single day. Even — or perhaps especially — when there is a crisis. There is nothing I dislike about my job, when something is going badly I work with the team to find a way to change it.
Name an idea or company that reimagined a business or industry — one you wish you’d thought of.
That’s a good question. It’s a cliché, but whoever came up with Apple’s Think Different campaign was having a good day at the office. The people referenced in that campaign all reimagined society for the better and that’s hugely powerful; much more powerful than reimagining just an industry or a business.
Which person or people helped shape and inspire who you are today?
My mum, who grew up in a modest council house with my nan, grandad and four brothers, always taught me to work hard, do things the right way and to remember where I come from (good advice!). But, probably the most influential person has been Matt. True has been an incredible journey so far and without Matt’s (occasionally questionable) relentless optimism, we would never have got to where we are today. The demands we as founders put on ourselves and the business mean that I am continually challenged to grow as a person, which is another reason I love what I do.
true cv
Paul’s expertise at True:
As CEO, Paul has overall responsibility for the firm; its strategic direction, our purpose, our people, our brands and our investments. Paul is uniquely positioned to have worked and connected with all our founders and management teams as well as our people.
True stories featuring Paul
Events
Events, Reimagined
This October, our team was finally able to meet in person for a few fun-filled days of getting to know each other — and our new brand — a little better.
News
True takes D2C clean energy drink Sneak to next level
True has acquired a majority stake in D2C zero sugar, energy drink business Sneak to help supercharge international expansion, build out Sneak’s distribution channels and support the business as it continues to disrupt the traditional energy drink market with its creative approach to marketing and ecommerce.
News
True launches third PE fund: a huge milestone in our journey to reimagine PE.
Consumer specialists True scale their investment and innovation firm to more than £600m AUM in just five years – with the Covid downturn proving to be no barrier to performance.
relevant people
Will Pearson
Managing Director
“Will is a strong and inspirational leader who joins commercial insight with operational expertise to drive value. This includes challenging convention to ensure our companies remain ahead of the competition.’
Matt Truman
Executive Chair and Co-founder
Matt is the Executive Chair and Co-Founder of consumer and retail specialist investment and advisory firm True. With significant assets under management spanning venture capital, private equity and public equities and its own proprietary strategy, value creation and technology business advising the likes of Walmart, ABF, Haleon, TJX Inc, Warner Brothers Discovery, Primark and M&S, True has a unique business model and perspective with investments across the capital spectrum.
