“I’m the luckiest man in the world” – The brokers bid farewell to Brian Winterflood, stepping down from Winterflood Securities after 60 years of market service
Brian Winterflood is stepping down from the eponymous brokerage he co-founded, but the soon-to-be octogenarian has no intention of slowing down.
The former jobber tells us he's no huge sports fan, so won't be using his free time to attend the races like many City grandees, but Winterflood is a regular fixture on the City's events scene. He says he'll be dividing his time between tending to his home in Wimbledon, travelling, and keeping up to speed with a number of initiatives in the Square Mile.
"I don't really have hobbies", he tells The Capitalist.
"I'll be back in the City soon. Next week, actually. I wear many hats." Winterflood plays a key role in the City of London Corporation's Guild of Bankers and Quoted Companies Alliance, and is president of the Securities Industry Management Association, a network for City professionals focusing on operations issues.
He retires from his honourary position as life president of Winterflood Securities next January. At the same time, he'll be celebrating both his 80th birthday and 60 years of marriage to wife Doreen.
Brian Winterflood is one of the most-respected stock market veterans, having started his career in the City as a messenger at Greener Dreyfus & Co in 1953. He helped promote the Unlisted Securities Market, which was set up in 1980, and went on to found market-maker Winterflood Securities in 1988 where he was non-executive director until this January. The 79-year-old was appointed to the board of Close Brothers in 1995 after its takeover of Winterflood two years prior.
"I am the luckiest man in the world" says the market boss as he remembers the key roles he played in London's trading history.
The veteran was instrumental in obstructing the London Stock Exchange's attempts to merge with Deutsche Boerse in 2000, becoming something of an unofficial spokesman for the smaller brokers and investors who objected to the tie-up.
But his fondest memories come from much earlier in his career.
According to Winterflood, the best (and worst) moment in his career spanning 60 years (excluding a two-year stint of National Service) was getting authorised to trade in the first place.
"On the one hand, coming to the end of the learning process was hugely exciting. You would watch what the other members of the team were doing and think 'oh yeah, I can do that', but suddenly having that freedom was terrifying!"
"There was a wonderful atmosphere on the trading floor at the London Stock Exchange. There's a constant rush of adrenaline and everyone is pitting their wits against everyone else."
So, what has been the most exciting part of the last 60 years? "Oh, I have to say marrying my wife."