City Moves: Who’s switching jobs in the Square Mile this week?
City A.M.‘s Millie Turner provides a roundup of the most important hires and job moves across the City, every Wednesday afternoon. Email citymoves@cityam.com to be featured.
Chairman trades The Restaurant Group for the FA
The Restaurant Group (TRG), which host brands like Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s, has confirmed this week that its chairman will be stepping down at the end of this year.
Debbie Hewitt MBE will be departing the board with effect from 31 December 2021, to take the reigns as chairman of the English Football Association.
“On behalf of the Board and everyone at TRG, I would like to thank Debbie for the significant contribution that she has made to the business,” CEO Andy Hornby said.
“The FA have chosen Debbie for her extensive chair expertise across a wide range of business sectors, and there is no doubt that TRG has benefitted from that experience.”
Joining in January next year, Hewitt’s appointment is still subject to ratification by the FA Council.
The board has now begun the process to recruit her successor, led by senior independent director Graham Clemett.
“The group has undergone a substantial transformation since I joined in 2015, and it now has a stronger customer ethos, a stronger group of brands and a first-class team,” Hewitt said.
“I remain fully committed to working with Andy and Graham for the rest of the year to ensure the recruitment of a strong successor and a smooth transition.”
Microsoft UK CEO elected to CBI’s board
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has bagged the CEO of Microsoft UK for its board, to help navigate post-pandemic business in the capital and the rest of the UK.
Incoming non-executive chairman Clare Barclay, who joined the CBI on Tuesday, will be responsible for the strategic and financial decisions.
“The business landscape is changing rapidly and to deliver the promise of greater prosperity we must not shy away from the biggest challenges we face today,” Barclay said.
With nearly three decades in the IT industry under her belt, before Barclay bagged Microsoft’s top UK role, she was previously the tech giant’s UK chief operating officer for four years.
Barclay is also a member of the CBI’s President’s Committee.
“Tech and innovation have been the engine that kept the economy moving amidst these challenging times, and as the head of Microsoft UK, Clare’s insights and advice will be invaluable to the CBI and the UK business community particularly as we place technology at the heart of building back better,” CBI president Lord Karan Bilimoria said.
Close Brothers Asset Management hires investment lead
Close Brothers Asset Management’s (CBAM) Mayfair office is set to host a new managing director this week, in the firm’s bid to bolster its high net worth investment proposition.
Joining in the autumn of this year, Rob Crawshaw moves from investment and wealth management firm Rathbones, where he has been since 2013.
Prior to Rathbones, the incoming managing director was a senior investment analyst at the financial services firm Brewer Dolphin.
Crawshaw will join Tim West’s team, who joined CBAM in late 2019 to support the firm’s Mayfair office, which manages over £14bn of client assets.
“At a time of economic uncertainty, clients need to have total confidence in the skills and expertise of their investment managers, especially given the reduced face-to-face interaction caused by the pandemic,” chief executive Martin Andrew said.
“Rob’s experience and enthusiasm for excellence will make him the perfect addition to the strong team in Mayfair, who have been a vital driver of the increase in our managed assets over the last year.”
Square Mile bags investment manager ahead of City recovery
Investment and consulting firm Square Mile has hired a new investment manager this week as the City rolls on with post-pandemic recovery.
William James is set to support the firm’s portfolio management team and play a part in tactical asset allocation.
Joining from Natixis Investment Managers, James has spent the last four years as a client relationship manager responsible for large wealth platforms.
Square Mile’s chief investment officer, Mark Harries, said: “The last 12 months have been challenging for all businesses. However, we have been fortunate to be able to continue to invest across all our operations.
“We are very excited to welcome William to the team; he shows exceptional aptitude in communicating investment processes and decision-making to clients and in managing relationships with them.”
Acin poaches Standard Chartered Bank CEO
Cloud-based risk solutions firm Acin has posted a former Standard Chartered Bank CEO to its board to bolster its post-pandemic growth.
Tracy Clarke is set to join the firm as a non-executive director and strategic consultant, to better prepare businesses for operational risk controls.
“Tracy brings a unique blend of global and regional business leadership, coupled with deep functional expertise in running complex global financial institutions. Her insights will be a real asset to Acin,” CEO of Acin, Paul Ford, said.
With a 30-year career among top-tier organisations like Standard Chartered, Private Bank, Sky and Inmarsat, Clarke will bring a wealth of industry experience.
“Having spent many years in banking myself, it is clear that the board, and other senior stakeholders, need greater visibility of their own firm’s operational risk appetite when making strategic decisions,” Clarke said.
Government affairs expert joins DWF in London
Legal and business services firm DWF has hired a former government affairs expert as a new partner in the capital.
Incoming partner Maher Ghanma joins the firm after 12 years at DLA Piper as head of government affairs for the Middle East.
Using his knowledge of the politics of the Middle East and Africa, Ghanma joins DWF with over two decades of experience in government affairs and public policy services.
“Maher’s connections, along with his ability to cultivate and develop key client relationships in the Middle East and around the world, will be a valuable addition as we look to expand,” CEO Sir Nigel Knowles said.
After working with executive offices of heads of state, regulators, and sovereign wealth funds across the Middle East and Africa region, Ghanma will support the development of client relationships across the Middle East and Africa at DWF.
Prior to his role at DLA Piper, Maher served in the Offices of King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah in Jordan, as well as the executive office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the prime minister of the UAE.
“There is growing demand for businesses to manage the politics of their business across developing markets, particularly because in most of these markets, governments are the largest investors and employers while simultaneously acting as regulators in their respective jurisdictions,” Maher said.