ABS Dean joins advisory board at Sorbus Partners

THE Executive Dean of Aston Business School, Professor George Feiger, is to join the advisory board of Sorbus Partners, a wealth management firm based in Staffordshire.

Prof Feiger has considerable experience within the financial services sector having held senior positions at both UBS and SBC Warburg in the US.

Steve Hollis, Chairman of Sorbus Partners’ Advisory Board said: “To attract someone of George’s calibre is indicative of the interest Sorbus Partners is creating.  Their model genuinely puts the interests of the client and not the firm first, stripping out unnecessary cost and providing impartial stewardship of wealth. Sorbus Partners has already started working with some of the UK’s wealthiest families clearly highlighting that their approach is resonating with clients and industry talent alike.”

Before joining Aston Business School in June 2013, Prof Feiger was the Chief Executive of a $3.4bn wealth management company in the United States. Private sector roles have included Head of Strategic Planning at the Bank of America’s world banking division, Senior Partner at McKinsey and Co, Global Head of Investment Banking for SBC Warburg, and Global Head of Onshore Private Banking at UBS.

His academic credentials include appointments as Associate Professor of Finance at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business and Lecturer in Economics at Harvard. He has served on the Advisory Board of the Berkeley Centre for Law, Business and Economics.

Prof Feiger said: “The financial service industry has lost its focus and has moved away from placing the client first. As a challenger within the industry Sorbus Partners has developed a model that reverses this.

“Since its formation just two years ago they have made a considerable impact by challenging the industry’s business model, resulting in high levels of interest among some of the UK’s wealthiest.

“I’m looking forward to becoming part of the Advisory Board to help develop this model further.”

Sorbus Partners was founded in 2012 by leading industry professionals. It attracted clients from the start, including some of the wealthiest families in the UK, with its genuinely independent client-led service and was awarded the title of ‘Best Multi-Family Office in Europe’ by Wealth Briefing in only its second year.

New trainees join Grant Thornton

GRANT Thornton in Birmingham has recruited a bumper crop of new trainees and promotions.  

Eleven graduates and seven school-leavers have joined the firm’s growing Birmingham office and will study for a wide range of professional qualifications while working across the firm’s audit, tax and advisory businesses.

Kathryn Godfree, office audit leader who oversees the local trainees’ programme, said: “This year, Grant Thornton received over 11,000 applications for 400 national training positions, so competition is incredibly tough and only those who can demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of our business are successful in gaining a place. These trainees have shown all the right qualities to embark on a career to become a trusted business adviser working alongside our dynamic and ambitious clients.”

Grant Thornton in Birmingham has recently made 20 promotions to management positions or above across commercial audit, corporate tax, entrepreneurial private client tax, advisory and public sector audit teams.

Dave Munton, regional managing partner, said: “It’s great to welcome so many budding business advisers to Grant Thornton, as well as celebrate the promotion of our talented people. Without exception, these individuals possess not just high levels of technical ability, but also enthusiasm and a real dedication to helping our clients achieve their ambitions for growth, both at home and abroad.”
 

New duo at Jobson James

BIRMINGHAM independent insurance brokers, Jobson James, has strengthened its management team with two senior appointments.

Dean Smith, right, has joined as an Associate Director and will lead the drive to deliver insurance solutions for companies in the food, manufacturing, technology and transport sectors.  A chartered insurance broker with over 25 years’ experience, Smith has worked for leading insurers in both underwriting and senior management roles.  He will also head up Jobson James’ trade credit division.

Nigel Wallace, left, joins the Birmingham team as Regional Director moving from the Leominster office. Wallace has over 30 years’ experience in commercial insurance broking and is a specialist in the manufacturing and construction sectors.  He will also jointly head up the water industry team.

Commenting on the appointments, Director Jon Parry said: “We are delighted to welcome Dean and Nigel to our team.  Their appointments demonstrate our ongoing commitment to developing the business.  We are moving on with the next stage of our vision and, as a consequence, we need to make sure we drive into new markets and take every opportunity.”