SUMMIT GROUP - Key Persons
Aaron, who qualified as an English Solicitor in July 2018, joined Garfield-Bennett as a Senior Trust & Company Administrator in September 2020. Having previously worked as a paralegal and trainee solicitor at a local law firm for over eight years, he brings to the company a broad knowledge of both English and Jersey corporate and private client law. In his spare time, Aaron is a keen footballer and plays for his local club. He also enjoys running and spending quality time with his family.
Abi joined Aquitaine in 2018, having previously worked for another local trust company for five years. She holds a degree in business studies from Plymouth University and is also a member of STEP, having qualified in 2016.
Abi is married with one daughter and enjoys spending her spare time with her family, friends and her animals.
Job Titles:
- Aquitaine Founder & Non - Executive Director
Adrian has over forty years' experience in the offshore finance industry, initially working for a major international private bank where he was managing director of the Channel Islands trust business specialising in fiduciary services for international private and corporate clients. Adrian has been a director of companies quoted on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange, and on the ISE in Dublin.
Adrian is one of the founding members of Aquitaine and is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (Trustee Diploma) and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Adrian is married with three children and five grandchildren. He is an enthusiastic road cyclist who also enjoys golf and travel.
Alona holds a masters degree in world economics from Plekhanov Academy of Economics in Moscow, as well as a masters degree in human resources management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco. She became STEP accredited in 2013.
She joined Summit in 2008 as a member of the family office team, the team that is focused on larger, more complex structures, and since that time gained a wealth of experience in administration and management of trusts and companies that own investment portfolios, as well as more ‘exotic' assets, such as residential and commercial real estate, private jets and yachts, art collections and private equity investments. Alona now heads one of Summit's administration teams. In 2017, Alona won the Trustee of the Year award at the Citywealth Future Leaders Awards in London.
Alona speaks English, Russian and French.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Skerritts Wealth Management
- Group Chair
Andrew has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. His career started in marketing with Unilever. He then joined Coopers & Lybrand as a partner in their strategy consulting practice. From there he moved to Standard Chartered Bank, working in Hong Kong as Commercial Director. He has held several senior executive positions, most recently as CEO of Towry plc. Prior to this, Andrew was CEO of Cox Insurance plc and Coutts & Co Bank. He has also served as a director of Hoare & Co Bank and Smith and Williamson Wealth Management plc.
Currently living in Switzerland, Andrew is also Chairman of Skerritts Wealth Management. He is a founder and ongoing supporter of the CHASM initiative at Birmingham University and Finance Governor of Sandhurst School, part of the Corvus Academy Trust.
Job Titles:
- Aquitaine Non Executive Chairman
Chris is a chartered accountant, and former managing partner of Ernst & Young in the Channel Islands specialising in audit and advisory services to financial services clients.
Additionally, he was a director of the Monument Trust Company for many years when owned by Ernst & Young. Since his retirement from Ernst & Young he has been a non-executive director of a number of Guernsey registered investment funds listed on the London Stock Exchange. Currently he is a non-executive director of a number of financial sector companies including one London listed investment fund where he chairs the audit committee, having relevant recent financial and accounting expertise. He is also a director of two licenced investment managers in Guernsey where he chairs the risk committees.
Chris has four children and nine grandchildren. Chris is a keen golfer and also enjoys travelling, fine food, and is an avid supporter of the England rugby team.
Christian joined the Summit Trust International SA team in Geneva in 2015, having previously read law at university.
Christian has experience with a wide variety of assets and international high net worth and ultra high net worth structures, from traditional investment portfolios and property, to luxury and specialist assets types such as private equity, cars, yachts and fine art.
Christian is a qualified member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Christian speaks English and French.
Born and brought up in Dublin, after graduating, Ciara moved to Guernsey over twenty five years ago. She spent four years at Ernst & Young before moving to Investec Trust (Guernsey) Limited where she spent thirteen years, acting as a lead director of the Guernsey office until its closure in 2001. Joining Aquitaine later that year Ciara now heads a team providing high touch family office type services to large and complex structures for middle east, international and UK resident, non-domiciled families with extensive UK commercial property interests and sophisticated investment portfolio arrangements.
Ciara qualified as a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in 1997.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Trust Manager
- Member of STEP
Claira joined Aquitaine in December 2019, with 10 years' experience in the fiduciary sector. Claira is a member of STEP, having completed her qualification in 2013.
Claira enjoys travelling, paddle boarding, exercising and spending time with her family & friends.
Claire Polson joined Aquitaine in October 2008 after more than ten years' previous fiduciary services experience in the financial sector in Guernsey. Claire holds the offshore certificate in trust and company administration and has day-to day responsibility for a number of our Middle East clients.
Claire is married with two children and loves travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
Clare has a wide range of experience in trust and company management, including private trust companies, within which a wide range of assets are managed, including fine art and automobile collections, aviation and yachting assets, private equity and commercial and residential property. Clare manages an administration team that is focused on larger, more complex structures where often a family office or private investment office is involved.
In May 2016 and 2023, Clare won the Trustee of the Year award at the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards held in London.
Clare speaks English and French.
Dan has worked in finance since 2008 having previously worked for a large bank owned trust company where he specialised in share schemes and employee benefit trusts and assisted in facilitating the initial public offering of a well-known high street discount store. He joined Aquitaine in February 2017, looking to increase his exposure to private clients.
Dan is a member of STEP and ICSA having completed the diploma in international trust management and chartered governance qualifying programme respectively.
Dan is a married father of three and loves to spend time with his family whenever he can. He frequents the gym and his interests include football, fishing, golf, cycling and motorsport.
Job Titles:
- Trust Non Executive Chairman
Daniel worked in management positions for leading trust companies in Canada prior to taking up roles in offshore trust companies in Nassau, Jersey and Geneva, with Coutts International Private Bank. A graduate of the University of Western Ontario in London, Canada, he subsequently earned his Master's of Business Administration at the University of Miami. He is accredited as a member of the Financial Planning Institute of Canada and a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Daniel is a founder of the Swiss Association of Trust Companies, a member of the editorial committee for Wealthbriefing, an on-line wealth management news service and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.
Daniel speaks English and French.
Dave has worked in the Guernsey finance industry since 1989 and joined Aquitaine in 2019 having worked for other private trust companies and a large bank trust company earlier in his career. Dave specialises in complex trust matters and dealing with international families and their advisors.
Dave qualified as an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1994 and became a member of the Society of Estate Practitioners in 1995. In 2007 he completed the Institute of Directors diploma in company direction.
Married with two children, Dave enjoys walking, reading and travelling.
David began his career in trust and company management in Guernsey prior to moving to the Cayman Islands in 2011. David joined Summit Trust (Cayman) Limited in 2019 and has a wide range of experience administering trusts and companies together with a diverse range of assets. David is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP).
Job Titles:
- Director of Risk and Compliance
David joined the company in February 2020 as a consultant before being appointed to the Board in 2020 as Director of Risk and Compliance.
He is responsible for overseeing the company's compliance team as well as ensuring Garfield-Bennett remain regulatory compliant and maintain their defences against money laundering, financial crime and the financing of terrorism.
In his spare time, David enjoys golf, travelling and scuba diving, skiing and watching live football.
Job Titles:
- Member of ICAEW
- Sanctuary Chief Executive Officer
Deepak graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Economics, thereafter, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser.
Based in London, Deepak held positions with PwC, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, and Barclays Wealth.
In 2013, he relocated to Dubai with Barclays Wealth before setting up Mayfair Private in 2016, a business wholly owned by leading London law firm Mishcon de Reya. Deepak specialised in advising ultra-high net worth clients with complex advisory requirements, working closely with them to develop strategies to safeguard and protect their assets.
Deepak is now responsible for the overall management and growth of Sanctuary and ensuring that its clients receive the best possible service.
Deepak is a member of ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales); CIOT (Chartered Institute of Taxation); and STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners).
Job Titles:
- Group Chief Financial Officer
Derek joined the Summit Group in July 2020. He has extensive international commercial experience as CFO in the fiduciary sector, as well as senior finance roles within the banking sector, complemented by advisory roles at KPMG.
Derek qualified as a chartered accountant in 1991 and has a strategic, operational and specialist integration & divestment skill set.
Outside work, Derek enjoys travelling, cooking and learning to play jazz piano.
Emma is a Senior Trust Officer and Team Leader at Summit Trust International SA.
Emma has been with Summit Trust in Geneva for seven years and runs a complex book of trusts which own assets from investment portfolios and real estate to operating businesses and art collections. Prior to moving to Geneva Emma worked in Jersey as a fund administrator for one of the world's leading private equity and investment advisory firms. Emma holds a first class BSc (Hons) degree in biomedical science with human biology from Leeds Metropolitan University, where she was given the deans award for academic achievement.
Emma speaks English and French.
Fiona joined Aquitaine in January 2019 having worked in the finance industry for ten years prior to this, with the majority of those years being in the fiduciary sector. She is a fully qualified trust and estate practitioner after completing her qualification in 2017.
Fiona is married with one daughter and loves spending time with her family and friends. She also enjoys tap dancing and going to the theatre.
Job Titles:
- Member of the International Compliance Association
- Trust Chief Compliance Officer
Gill has been a member of the Summit team since 2005 and is responsible for the compliance function as well as providing a knowledge base for the administration teams. Gill has over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry, working in Jersey and Geneva. She brings a wealth of experience in trust and company management, as well as anti money laundering & regulatory matters, having dedicated the first half of her career to trustee work before focusing on compliance since 2008.
Gill is a member of the International Compliance Association, a member of STEP and an Associate of The Chartered Governance Institute.
Grant joined Garfield-Bennett in April 2022. He has nearly 40 years' experience in the trust private client sector. His professional career started in Jersey in 1984. Grant has worked in a number of small independent trust company businesses. Weekends are generally spent out and about with his young family taking advantage of the beautiful beaches and green lanes Jersey has to offer. In his spare time Grant likes to play golf and participate in club competitions and team matches.
Grant's qualifications are: TEP Dip (ITM) - Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners, and Dip (AML) - ICA International Diploma.
Job Titles:
- Associate of the Institute of Financial Services
- Trust Director
Ian was educated in Guernsey and obtained a business degree from Brighton University. He has worked in the trust industry since 1988 principally in Guernsey at Barings, Bank of Butterfield and 13 years with Credit Suisse including three years setting up their trust presence in Dubai. Ian joined Federal Trust Company Limited as a director in 2016 and Federal was acquired by Aquitaine Group Limited in May 2021.
Ian is an associate of the Institute of Financial Services (formally the Chartered Institute of Bankers), a qualified trust and estate practitioner (with STEP) and holds the Institute of Directors diploma in company direction. He has previously served on the Chartered Institute of Bankers committee in Guernsey and the STEP Arabia committee in Dubai.
Ian is experienced at dealing with wealth protection and inheritance planning for international families.
Job Titles:
- Director, Client Services
James has a wealth of experience in managing complex ultra high net worth trust and corporate structures holding assets including operational businesses, art, vessels, bloodstock, financial portfolios and private equity.
James is a qualified trust and estate practitioner (TEP), having completed the STEP diploma in international trust management. James is an elected council member of STEP Cayman, acting as Secretary between 2018 and 2020, and was recently appointed Head of the Education Committee. James also holds an MBA from Durham University.
James speaks English and French.
Jenny joined Aquitaine in July 2018 with over twenty years' experience in Guernsey offshore financial services industry. Previous experience includes client executive officer for an offshore private bank and extensive experience as a manager in fund administration businesses, with qualifications in this field. Jenny enjoys the diversity of being a manager of a private family office which covers all aspects of offshore finance.
Jenny has three children and enjoys cooking and the theatre.
Jo qualified as a solicitor of England and Wales in 2008, working as a private client solicitor in the UK before beginning her trust career at Summit Trust International SA in Geneva in 2011. Jo has a wide range of experience in trust and company management, providing bespoke private client trusteeship to ultra-high value, complex international trust structures, within which an array of real assets are managed, including fine art, vintage cars, shipping fleets, yachts, private equity, operating businesses and commercial and residential property.
Jo is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). In 2018 and 2020, Jo won the Trustee of the Year award at the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards.
Jo speaks English and French.
Joe joined Summit Trust in 2019. He has a broad range of experience in the administration of trusts and companies, including traditional investment portfolios, and a range of non-portfolio assets such as operating businesses, shipping companies, yachts, aviation, art, residential and commercial real estate, and private equity investments.
Joe holds a bachelor's degree in sports management from Loughborough University in the UK, and became STEP accredited in April 2022.
Joe speaks English and French.
Karen joined Aquitaine in February 2023 to continue a long career in fiduciary services, having worked for several large local trust companies, as well as a small family-run company. She is a member of The Chartered Governance Institute, having completed her qualification in 2003. Karen is responsible for a broad portfolio of clients.
Karen is married with a young daughter and loves spending her spare time with her family and their ponies, as well as catching up with friends.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Trust Manager
- Member of STEP
Katie joined Aquitaine in November 2022 with over ten years' experience in the fiduciary sector. Katie is a Member of STEP, having completed her qualification in January 2015.
Katie enjoys travelling, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Kerry has worked in finance since 1997, initially working with an independent financial advisor. After a career break to raise her two children to school age, Kerry joined a fiduciary service provider which grew to become a global enterprise, to whom she dedicated over 23 years. Kerry joined Aquitaine in May 2023.
Kerry holds an RSA NVQ in administration, the offshore certificate in international financial administration and is a member of STEP.
In her spare time Kerry likes to socialise with her family and friends with regular visits to both France and the UK. She is also a member of a running club.
Laurine joined the trust and company team in 2007, before qualifying as a Trust & Estate Practitioner in 2011.
She brings a great deal of experience and knowledge which assists in leading a small team of administrators with the formation and administration of various trust and company structures.
Job Titles:
- Group Chief Executive Officer
Job Titles:
- Senior Trust Administrator
Job Titles:
- Trust Chief Executive Officer
Job Titles:
- Aquitaine Managing Director