In an exclusive statement today (21 January) for the II and IA brands, Skybound said the appointments follow “a transformative 2024, where the company expanded globally and invested heavily in cutting-edge adviser technology, setting the stage for 2025 to become a year of full-scale digital transformation”.

Sutherland was previously a senior finance manager at ghd with responsibility for the reporting of the UK & Ireland business unit.

Ermakov worked previously at ekar, the Middle East’s first and largest shared mobility company, providing on-demand access to a network of vehicles via a mobile app,

Ward was previously a strategic partnerships manager at TIME Investments.

In 2024, Skybound Wealth reshaped its operations by integrating advanced tools to enhance advice delivery and improve efficiency across its offices. This shift underscored the company’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of the financial advisory industry.

The three key hires builds further on this progress, the statement said, with the new expertise spanning financial leadership, marketing innovation, and partnership development, helping to drive the company’s digital transformation agenda in 2025, enabling Skybound Wealth to further enhance its global presence.

Mike Coady, CEO of Skybound Wealth said: “The strides we made in 2024 were just the beginning. This year, our focus is on integrating digital solutions that will transform not only how we operate but also how we connect with and support our clients.

“The calibre of talent joining our team reflects our ambition to set a new standard.”

Family First Financial Services specialises in helping clients ensure their financial security in the event of unexpected events, planning for retirement, saving and investing, buying or investing in property, as well guidance on a range of insurance needs. The company has earned a strong reputation across all aspects of financial planning, including wills, potential Inheritance Tax liabilities, and the benefits of trust funds.

Thomas Maddison, acquisitions director at Hoxton Capital Management, said: “This acquisition is a strategic fit for Hoxton Wealth, significantly enhancing our presence in the north of the UK and further advancing our goal of delivering lifestyle financial planning at scale throughout the country.

“I want to extend my gratitude to Mark Horner and Ian McFarlane at Family First for their collaboration throughout this process. Their dedication has been instrumental in ensuring a smooth transition.

“Mark will be personally overseeing the handover period, introducing clients to their new Hoxton advisers and ensuring that all necessary steps are taken for a successful integration. His commitment to providing a personal and warm handover will ensure continuity and trust during this transition.”

Hoxton Capital Management now has more than $2.2bn assets under management (AUM). The company, which was founded in the UAE in April 2018 by British expatriate, Chris Ball, formerly of deVere Group, now employs 300 staff worldwide.

In a statement it said the  “comprehensive review, which involved surveys, desk-based analysis, and on-site visits, highlights the critical role whistleblowers play in detecting, escalating, and addressing misconduct”.

It also emphasised the importance of robust whistleblowing policies and procedures in fostering a speak-up culture and promoting ethical behaviour.

The report outlines eight key themes and findings, including whistleblower protection, policies and procedures, governance, and training and awareness.

The DFSA observed that many entities are exceeding regulatory requirements by implementing additional measures to build trust in whistleblowing arrangements, encourage transparency, and embed whistleblowing practices into their corporate culture.

All Regulated Entities are encouraged to consider the findings and incorporate them into their operations.

Future engagements with the DFSA may require entities to demonstrate how they have addressed the review’s key areas.

He will support the company’s expansion and growth across all GSB operations. He has previously held roles senior roles at The Fry Group and global financial services firm Sanlam.

At the Fry Group Johnson served as global head of operations. With teams across the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia, he was accountable for driving the evolution and integration of a multi-service, multi-jurisdiction proposition.

At Sanlam, he was head of proposition in the wealth division, where he led the design and delivery of the service proposition and managed teams across front and back-office.

He has led several projects to deliver an evolving technology, process and system automation and client experience.

Ross Whatnall, founding partner of GSB said: “We are delighted to welcome Hugh to the GSB team. His experience in delivering client-focused solutions is exceptional. Having re-vamped service propositions through and created initiatives to simplify the advice process, we’re excited to build further on GSB’s valued service offering.”

Johnson’s hire comes after the double appointment of Paul Waterman and Craig Holding who joined GSB’s Wealth division based in Dubai late last year.

Financial services group GSB consists of GSB Wealth, GSB Private and GSB Capital

Around half of the 1,000-plus respondents cited this as a top concern keeping them awake at night – more so than ‘paying rent’ (49%), the ‘cost of medical insurance’ (39%) and ‘retirement funding’ (32%).

By contrast, UAE residents are relatively unconcerned about financial obligations such as paying for events like their child’s wedding (9%), a summer holiday (16%) and the mortgage (19%).

The survey, conducted between October and December 2024, asked the same question to residents across various demographics – by gender, age, location, ethnicity, marital status and salary range. In general, the factors that keep respondents awake at night are the same for everyone.

“We can see some consistent themes in the UAE about how residents think about their financial situation, and what’s important or concerning for them,” said Stuart Shilcock, Senior Executive Officer Middle East of IFGL, the provider of investment, savings and protection solutions to expats and wealthy locals around the world.

Five other notable findings from the IFGL survey include:

1. Women are generally more concerned than men when it comes to saving enough and funding retirement.

2. Retirement funding is more of a worry for individuals in the highest income group (over AED 25,000) compared with respondents in the lowest group (under AED 10,000).

3. Western and Arab expats consider savings levels and funding retirement as much bigger factors keeping them awake at night than Emirati or Asian respondents – while Emiratis are much more concerned than other ethnic groups about paying for the future education of their children.

4. Not saving enough and funding retirement are significantly more worrying for single people than those who are married, especially if the latter already have children.

5. Younger respondents (18-24 years old) worry much more about their levels of savings than any other age group, although this means they have more time to start planning to make a difference.

“For many people in the UAE, financial preparation and professional advice appear to be essential, and could help them sleep better at night, whoever they are,” added Shilcock at IFGL, which has $25bn in assets under administration.