LFSI launches in City
A BODY which aims to promote a Yorkshire city as a major financial centre is strengthening its links with the City of London.
Leeds Financial Services Initiative (LFSI) has established a London and International Committee to boost its presence in the capital and in overseas centres in order to raise its profile both nationally and internationally.
The launch of the Committee is being held today at Mansion House in the City, which is located opposite the Bank of England, and is being attended by Lord Mayor of the City of London, David Lewis, and senior representatives from City institutions and firms.
The Committee consists of professional who have been based in Leeds who are now based in London and overseas and who are leaders in their own organisations.
They will act as “ambassadors for Leeds” in London and in some key markets around the world. Their role will be to advise the LFSI, which represents the financial and professional services sector in Leeds, on key trends and opportunities for Leeds in the City and provide a permanent ongoing presence which LFSI will support with a dedicated resource.
Mr Lewis, who acts as the global ambassador for the whole UK financial services industry, said: “The new Committee is a very useful way of strengthening the well established relationship that the City of London has with Leeds.
“It is important for the whole industry to have, not just a world-class centre in London, but also regional centres of excellence like Leeds which have particular strengths and roles to play.”
The Committee is being chaired by Stuart Counsell, deputy chief executive of Deloitte in the UK and previously Deloitte’s managing partner of the UK regions based in Leeds.
The other founding members of the London & International Committee are:
Wayne Bowser, deputy head of commercial banking for the UK at HSBC;
Alastair Da Costa, managing director of DLA Piper in Asia;
Stephen Hopkins, head of international integration at Eversheds;
Glenn King, operations director at Yorkshire Bank who is shortly to become chief executive of ServCO in Melbourne for National Australia Bank;
and Roger Marsh, partner in business recovery services at PricewaterhouseCoopers, who is currently on secondment to the Cabinet Office.
Kevin O’Connor, chairman of LFSI, said: “This launch is not just a one-off event as the Committee will give us a permanent presence at a senior level in the City and in certain overseas centres.
“It will improve communications for us and further our aims to develop Leeds as a European regional financial centre, complementary to London, and contribute more to the promotion of the UK financial industry which is a world leader.
“Leeds has generated formidable growth and last year we became the largest centre for employment in financial and business services outside of London at 124,000.”
Mr Counsell said: “With financial services being ever more global, the Committee will provide a valuable international network for Leeds as well as helping to raise awareness of Leeds’ strengths and to establish new relationships.
“Leeds has depth and breadth of expertise in financial and professional services with centres of excellence which generate and attract business not just across the North but nationally and internationally.
“Its lower cost base and pool of talent make it an attractive location for international firms wanting to maintain their competiveness. This helps the UK financial services industry offer a wider package and range of options.”
The Leeds Financial Services Initiative (LFSI) is a partnership organisation and was founded by Leeds City Council and the Leeds Chamber of Commerce together with a number of leading financial and legal firms.
More than 110 firms and organisations are now subscription members, including the major financial and professional services organisations in Leeds.
