Former Paragon Equity chief Geoff Thomas sets up Axant Corp Advisory Geoff Thomas. FORMER Paragon Private Equity managing director Geoff Thomas has struck out on his own, setting up Axant Corporate Advisory. Mr Thomas has been running his new firm part time while a decision was made by Paragon not to start a new investment fund. Mr Thomas said he had already had some repeat work with Axant in the six or so months he had been operating, and was now devoting himself to the business full time. The firm would not have a specific sector focus, but Mr Thomas said he had strengths in management as well as on the finance side. "I'm also interested in doing M & A work ... and also setting firms up for sale," he said. Things like looking at a three year plan to set firms up for sale ... I can work in the business part-time to help achieve that so that when it comes to a sale process they're well set up. Mr Thomas said there was a space in the market to advise small to medium sized businesses and there was a lack of understanding about the strategies to put in place prior to selling a business. It's a bit like trying to sell a house, you do things to it before you sell it and it's similar with a firm, you make it neat before you sell it, and often people don't do that. Mr Thomas is currently working solo but was keen to expand. He will continue as a non executive director at Paragon, which still has two companies in its investment fund.