The Gridiron Grant is a unique scholarship programme, devised by LGT Wealth Management US and the Jacksonville Jaguars UK in 2018, to offer two recipients each year with the opportunity of receiving full tuition fees to any UK university or vocational programme of their choice.

Two winners are selected each year following a detailed application and interview process involving a panel from the LGT Wealth Management US and the Jaguars U.K. team. Each applicant’s commitment to the pursuit of further education, their values and their overall aspirations to attain success are independently assessed, with the final scores determining the outcome of the process.

This year’s recipients are Michael Gairey and Daniella Yeboah, both students at Ark Walworth Academy. Michael Plays for GB U19s as an inside Line Backer and is one of three team captain’s for the South London Renegades; Michael will study Business at UWE. Daniella was a regular participant of JagTag from 2017-2022 and she has been granted a place at Nottingham University, to study Medicine. Both students also work with the BIGKID Foundation, Brixton and played JagTag at Walworth Academy.

Paul Nixon, CEO of LGT Wealth Management US, said: “We are excited to support Michael and Daniella through the Gridiron Grant. This initiative reflects our commitment to empowering young people to achieve their full potential through education. Seeing the dedication and ambition of these students reaffirms our belief in the transformative power of education, sport and community support. We look forward to seeing all they will accomplish.”

Maria Gigante, VP of UK Operations for the Jaguars, added: “Partnering with a brand that shares our values and passion to make a difference to communities in which we have a presence is the most fulfilling aspect of what we can achieve as the Jaguars. The philanthropic endeavours of LGT Wealth Management US are to be admired, and we are happy that this innovative initiative continues to add tangible value to the lives of young people. I wish both Michael and Daniella good luck in their studies, and thank Paul Nixon and the team for their continued support in bringing this project to life once more.”

Evelyn Partners has appointed Reinoud Noorduijn as a certified financial planner in its Guildford office.

The move is part of the wealth management group’s plan to continue growing the number of clients it works with in Surrey.

Noorduijn joins Evelyn Partners from Sheraton Financial Planning in Fareham, where he spent more than two years and was an associate financial planner.

He will be based at the firm’s office at Onslow House. The financial planning team in Guildford has expanded rapidly in recent years, growing from five advisers in 2021 to 14 today.

LGT Wealth Management

Mike Stirrup, formerly of Artorius Wealth and UBS, will join as a wealth planner, alongside Matthew Stevenson, who arrives from Evelyn Partners as a trainee investment manager.

The hires come after LGT announced plans to open its first office in Manchester in March, and expand its presence in Birmingham into new premises.

The firm will continue to strategically build the team over the coming months, adding further expertise for clients in the wider Northwest region.

Global X ETFs

The ETF provider has appointed Goldman Sachs’ Ryan O’Connor as CEO from 8 April.

O’Connor began at Goldman in 2017, where he became global head of ETF Product for the Asset Management branch, responsible for the overarching ETF product platform. Previously, he spent 11 years at State Street Global Advisors.

Since its founding in 2008, Global X has acquired over $40bn assets under management and functions as part of the Mirae Asset Financial Group, which holds over $550bn AUM.

The Manchester office will open in March and Mike Stirrup, formerly of Artorius Wealth and UBS, will join as a wealth planner, alongside Matthew Stevenson, who arrives from Evelyn Partners as a trainee investment manager.

According to LGT, the firm will continue to strategically build the team over the coming months, adding further expertise for clients in the wider Northwest region.

See also: Novia Global kickstarts international expansion with Dubai launch

In Birmingham LGT will move into new offices to accommodate the growth of its local presence with the addition of the team that joined following the acquisition of Abrdn Capital, as well as recent hire Tom Stone, who joined as investment manager from Quilter Cheviot.

“The growth of our regional footprint with these two new offices in Manchester and Birmingham, further highlights our dedication to bringing exceptional service to our clients and partners around the UK,” said Ben Snee, CEO of LGT Wealth Management.

“These cities have always been important to us and we will further develop our strengths in these regions with new talent and fresh perspectives that match our entrepreneurial ethos and dedication to client service,” he added.

Glaister holds over 13 years of experience in the industry, and joined LGT Wealth Management following its acquisition of Abrdn Capital in 2023. She had spent three years with Abrdn as senior investment manager. Before, Glaister gained experience with Tilney Investment Managers, which is now part of Evelyn Partners, and Redmayne-Bentley.

Ian Gibson, managing partner in Evelyn Partners’ Leeds office, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Lauren to our Leeds investment management team. Lauren is a former colleague, and I am looking forward to working with her again as we continue with our growth plans in the region over the course of 2024. I know that Lauren’s extensive, senior investment management will be a great asset for our business and clients.”

To read more on this topic, visit: Professional services firm makes fifth acquisition of the year

Glaister specialises in investments for private clients and serves as a trustee for the Leeds Hospitals Charity, where she sits on the finance & performance and audit & risk committees.

“I am thrilled to be joining the Evelyn Partners team in Leeds, I know many of them well and feel it will be an excellent and important move in my career,” Glaister said. “The investment proposition offered is second to none and along with my new colleagues I believe we have a real opportunity to further the superior growth already achieved.”

In December 2023, Evelyn Partners acquired Hardwood Hutton marking its fifth acquisition of the year. The group holds £55.6bn assets under management as of the end of September 2023.

This article first appeared on our sister publication Portfolio Adviser.

LGT Wealth Management picked up a trio of gongs at the ceremony, while HSBC, Legal & General Investment Management and Lloyds were also recognised for shining a light on “excellent, often untold stories that exist across organisations and among individuals in the wealth management and advice industry,” said Pimfa (Personal Investment Management & Financial Advice Association).

Liz Field, chief executive of Pimfa, commented: “I am delighted, as ever, to congratulate both the winners and highly commended from this year’s D&I Awards, but also all those who entered the awards this year.

“The business, moral and social case for diversity and inclusion has not dimmed, nor shall it for some time to come, and the firms and individuals that entered this year’s awards are all excellent examples of how our members recognise the talents of individuals from all backgrounds and ensure that all people feel involved, valued, respected, treated fairly, and embedded within the cultures of the organisations they work for.”

The winners of the awards, for which MA Financial Media titles ESG Clarity, International Adviser and Portfolio Adviser are the exclusive media partners, in each category are as follows:

Inclusive Talent Management Award

• Winner: LGT Wealth Management

• Best D&I Initiative Award (1-50 Employees)
• Winner: The Verve Foundation

• Best D&I Initiative Award (51-350 Employees) – sponsored by Royal London
• Winner: 7IM

• Best D&I Initiative Award (351+ Employees)  – sponsored by SEI
• Highly Commended: Legal and General Investment Management
• Winner: Lloyds Banking Group

• Best Industry Partner Award
• Highly Commended: Women Returners
• Winner: EY Foundation

• Rising Talent Award – Sponsored by Raymond James
• Winner: Nalini Solanki, Legal and General Investment Management

• Best Approach to Wellbeing Award – sponsored by Charles Schwab
• Winner: FIS

• The Overall DE&I Champion Award – sponsored by Morningstar
• Highly Commended: David Coombs, Rathbones
• Winner: Fiona Wallace, HSBC

• The DE&I Executive Sponsor Award – sponsored by Clearstream
• Winner: Phoebe Stone, LGT Wealth Management

• Best Organisational Outreach Initiative Award – sponsored by FIS
• Highly Commended: Future Frontiers
• Winner: LGT Wealth Management

Pimfa chief executive Field added while there is still work to be done “it is heartening to see just how much effort is going into making our industry as diverse and inclusive as it can be”.

“As the voice of our industry, Pimfa will continue to make D&I a priority and look to collaborate across the sector to provide resources, support and co-ordination of efforts in the years to come,” she added.

The winners were chosen by an independent group of industry peers alongside experts in diversity and inclusion from charities that Pimfa partner with. These included Roopalee Dave, partner at EY; Peter Moores, chief executive of Raymond James; Matt Cameron, global managing director at LGBT Great; Bev Shah, co-chief executive & founder, City Hive; Jennifer Mathias, group chief finance officer at Rathbones;  Sean Taylor, director at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management; Richard Wilson, chief executive officer at abrdn Personal Wealth and interactive investor among others.

Huge congratulations to all the winners!