Press centre
We have a number of experts that can comment on investment management, financial planning, tax and professional services. Please contact the press team if you would like to arrange an interview.
Direct investing
Jason Hollands
Managing Director, Corporate Affairs
Jason is our lead spokesperson. He has worked in the investment industry for nearly three decades, at both wealth and asset management firms. He is frequently quoted in the press and has previously written for leading titles including the Financial Times and The Times. He has a regular column in The Herald.
After graduating from Oxford he initially worked as a management consultant before entering the investment industry with Bestinvest, where he worked for nine years until 2002, initially as Head of Research and latterly as Deputy Managing Director. Jason then spent nine years holding senior positions in the asset management industry as Director, Head of Communications & Strategy at ISIS Asset Management and then Director, Head of Corporate Affairs at F&C Asset Management where he was responsible for Investor Relations and Group Communications. He returned to Bestinvest in 2012 ahead of it's 2014 combination with Tilney (now Evelyn Partners).
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Personal finance
Jason Hollands
Managing Director, Corporate Affairs
Jason is our lead spokesperson. He has worked in the investment industry for nearly three decades, at both wealth and asset management firms. He is frequently quoted in the press and has previously written for leading titles including the Financial Times and The Times. He has a regular column in The Herald.
After graduating from Oxford he initially worked as a management consultant before entering the investment industry with Bestinvest, where he worked for nine years until 2002, initially as Head of Research and latterly as Deputy Managing Director. Jason then spent nine years holding senior positions in the asset management industry as Director, Head of Communications & Strategy at ISIS Asset Management and then Director, Head of Corporate Affairs at F&C Asset Management where he was responsible for Investor Relations and Group Communications. He returned to Bestinvest in 2012 ahead of it's 2014 combination with Tilney (now Evelyn Partners).
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Alice Haine
Personal Finance Analyst, Bestinvest
Alice is our spokesperson for Bestinvest. She is frequently quoted in the press as an expert on all matters related to personal finance. She joined Evelyn Partners in 2022 after 25 years working as a journalist with the past 15 years of her career focused on personal finance.
Prior to joining Evelyn Partners, Alice worked for The National in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for more than a decade, firstly as Personal Finance Editor and later as the Business correspondent for the newspaper’s London Bureau.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Financial planning
Gary Smith (Pensions & Retirement)
Partner
I am a Partner (DIP PFS, BA Hons) within Evelyn Partners, working in our North East office, which is based on the Newcastle Quayside and provides Wealth management advice to both Personal and Corporate clients.
I have worked in financial services for over 20-years and have been providing advice to private clients and businesses for over 15-years. I am now in my 20th year of working within Evelyn Partners. I take am immense amount of pride in the levels of advice and service that I provide to my clients.
I am an experienced financial planner able to deal with both simple and complex planning matters. In terms of personal financial planning, I provide advice in areas such as protection, tax-efficient investing, retirement planning and mitigating inheritance tax. I also have significant experience dealing with SMEs and owner managed businesses and providing effective advice for business start ups all the way through to exits from business and maximising tax efficiencies.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Emma Sterland (Financial planning)
Chief Financial Planning Director
Emma is Chief Financial Planning Director and a member of the Group Executive Commitee and the Financial Services Executive Commitee. She is responsible for developing the Financial Planning business. Emma also has responsibility for her region as the Regional Managing Partner for London whilst continuing to look after private clients and their families.
Emma has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, having worked for HSBC Private Bank before joining Bestinvest in 2012. Her award-winning Financial Planning team won Financial Planning Firm of the Year at the 2023 Citywealth Magic Circle Awards.
In addition to her current responsibilities, she has a passion for financial literacy and enjoys being a mentor to and champion of individuals within the industry. She is a fellow and chartered Financial Planner of the CII.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Ian Dyall (Estate planning, inheritances & trusts)
Client Proposition
Over 30 years in financial services in a variety of roles, with more than 20 years specialising in estate planning and trusts.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Lucie Spencer (Later life planning)
Director
With over 17 years’ experience within the financial services industry, Lucie is a SOLLA accredited adviser who specialises in looking after our most vulnerable clients including those who are going into care, have suffered a serious injury or who are going through a divorce or separation. Lucie is also a Dementia Friend Champion so understands the challenges that this disease can present and how best to support.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Ben Glassman (Divorce)
Partner
Ben has particular specialist knowledge in pensions and divorce and has used this understanding to grow the firms Family team. Ben has a network of family lawyers whom he assists with pension income equalisation and expert witness reports. Ben is particularly adept at identifying strategies to maximise the total settlement size by identifying the true value of investments, pensions and businesses and how best to preserve these were beneficial to do so.
Divorce; Ben Glassman heads the firm's Family & Divorce practice from the London office. He and his team have a wealth of experience advising clients and their legal representatives during this unsettling time.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Carl Green (School fees planning)
Financial Planner
Carl advises on all aspects of private client advice with a particular focus on those clients with long-term retirement and estate planning needs.
His experience includes advising entrepreneurs, senior partners and he enjoys the challenge of working with multi-generational family arrangements.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Adam Osper (Sports and entertainment professionals)
Managing Partner
Chartered and Certified Financial Planner
Adam specialises in providing advice to Ultra High Net Worth, HNW & SME’s in all areas of personal and financial planning. As well as this Adam specialising in giving financial planning advice to Sports and Entertainers working with some of Europe’s top footballers and global music stars.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Graham Dixon (Lottery winners)
Partner
Graham has extensive experience helping his clients to understand what their wealth means to them and with estate planning, advises on the best ways to pass on wealth in the most effective way. Sometimes this will be to reduce an inheritance tax bill or to see the next generation enjoying their money.
Graham sees it as a privilege working with clients to help them achieve financial security and the life they’ve always wanted, whilst building a plan to ensure they have enough money to meet their lifetime needs and retire comfortably. He helps clients navigate their options so that wealth can be accumulated or income generated tax-efficiently.
Graham has almost 3 decades of experience in the financial services industry and has been advising clients at Evelyn Partners since 2007.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Tax experts
Toby Tallon (Personal tax)
Partner, Private Client Tax Services
Toby has over 20 years’ experience advising private clients. His focus is on helping entrepreneurs and family businesses with success and succession. His practice also includes high-net-worth individuals, landed and urban estates, clients with residency and domicile issues. Toby is a member of the ICAEW and the CIOT.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Chris Springett (Personal tax)
Partner, Private client tax services
Chris’ client base mostly comprises executives, senior employees and partners, with a specific focus on the legal and financial services sector.
Along with dealing with annual tax compliance for these individuals, Chris provides proactive advice on income tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax issues.
Chris also specialises in advising on UK residential property, particularly the relief from capital gains tax for the family home.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Jenny Batchelor (Business tax)
Partner, Business Tax
Jenny joined Evelyn Partners in 2019 having worked with Big 4 and mid-market firms for over 20 years in tax. She has advised a wide range of clients from UK start-ups through to global multinationals across all sectors.
She has spent time in industry covering maternity leave for UK head of tax for a multinational business so understands what is important to clients when working with advisers and always looks to deliver this to her clients.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Jayne Harrold (Environmental taxes)
Partner
Sunil Parmar (VAT)
Partner, VAT, Business Tax
Sunil has 13 years of advising clients across all sectors in relation to Indirect Tax matters particularly UK and EU VAT.
Sunil joined Evelyn Partners in early 2018 after previously working for 3 of the Big 4 accountancy firms and also managing the global VAT affairs of a FTSE 100 banking group.
For 6 years of his career, Sunil focussed on advising clients on VAT matters specifically relating to Mergers & Acquisitions.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Justin Arnesen (Research & Development tax incentives)
Justin has extensive experience in advising businesses on how to strategically claim and maximise Government incentives across the value chain, both UK focused and internationally.
Justin has experience in advising clients in Africa, ASPAC, Europe and the UK. Advising Tax Authorities on R&D tax legislation, implementation of legislation and the practical application of guidelines and interpretation notes for taxpayers.Advising clients on where to invest in order to utilise and maximise Government incentives.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Martin Dye (Capital allowances)
Martin leads Evelyn Partners’ specialist capital allowances services, part of the 30+ strong R&D and Incentives team.
He has over 18 years of experience, build within the big 4 practices, advising clients across various sectors, on optimising their capital allowances tax reliefs - through a mixture of utilising deep technical analysis, the latest technology, process improvements and agreements with HMRC.
As a chartered tax advisor (CTA), with a background in Quantity Surveying, Martin has a specialist mix of property and tax expertise to fully understand all aspects of his client’s property developments and transactions and help them optimise the reliefs available and mitigate their commercial risks.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Dominic Arnold (Tax dispute resolution)
Dominic is the head of Tax Dispute Resolution at Evelyn Partners. He has over 30 years’ experience of contentious tax matters and specialises in helping individuals and businesses navigate complex issues with HMRC. Before moving into practice in 2007, Dominic spent 18 years with HMRC in a variety of investigation and tax compliance roles.
Dominic’s team also helps clients make voluntary disclosures to HMRC under various programmes such as the Contractual Disclosure Facility (COP9) and the Worldwide Disclosure Facility (WDF).
Dominic has also acted as an expert witness in a number of civil proceedings, including those relating to professional negligence claims against tax advisers.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Colette Henshaw (Business rates)
Colette joined us in 2022, from a Global Real Estate consultancy, and leads our Business Rates Tax service.
She is a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has 13 years’ experience advising on business rates tax. She has an extensive track record in acting for large FTSE 100 corporates, SMEs and owner managed businesses. Her experience covers a wide range of sectors including Logistics & Industrial, Manufacturing and technology, Construction, Professional Services, Healthcare, Education, Retail, Leisure and Hospitality. She can utilise all business rates rental valuation methods to advise on a wide range of business rates tax assessments. Optimising savings via challenging assessments, advising on empty rates and making appropriate relief applications.
As a Chartered Surveyor Colette as an in-depth knowledge of the real estate investment and occupational market and is well placed to advise on business rates tax assessments. Colette positively implements strategic valuation advice to negotiate and secure best client outcomes.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Investment management
Chris Kenny
Chief Investment Management Director
Chris is Chief Investment Management Director, a member of the Group Executive Committee and the Financial Services Executive Committee. He is responsible for leading our Investment Management business, including our investment process, client service and engagement with intermediaries. Alongside this, Chris has direct responsibility for the London region.
Chris has developed a successful career as an investment manager, working with private client families and their advisers in the UK and internationally. He has provided advice on long-term investment strategies, directly managing portfolios as well as guiding overall financial strategies.
He has enjoyed lasting relationships with a focused group of clients and advisers in the UK and across the world. He and his teams have managed portfolios in a wide range of tax environments, including pension funds and situations involving non-standard residence and domicile.
He has a good understanding of alternative assets, as well as more traditional investments. He is also experienced in working with more complex family structures and issues around inheritance and succession planning.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Genevra Banszky von Ambroz
Partner, Investment management - funds
Genevra focuses on the management of multi-asset fund-of-fund solutions and funds research. She is Lead Manager of the Sustainable Central Investment Propositions (Sustainable Evelyn Active Portfolios and Sustainable Managed Portfolio Service), and co-manager of the Active Managed Portfolio Service and Defensive Growth Fund.
Genevra joined Evelyn Partners, then Smith & Williamson Investment Management, in September 2008. She became a member of the Multi-Asset team in January 2010, and has since been involved in managing multi-asset fund-of-funds and funds research, with a particular focus on investment companies.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
James Burns
Managing Partner, Investment management
James heads up Evelyn Partners’ Managed Portfolio Service as well as leading the Multi Asset team which oversees the Evelyn Partners MM Global Investment Fund, the Defensive Growth Fund and the MM Endurance Balanced Fund.
James joined the firm in 1999 and started working on the investment trust desk in 2001. He also sits on the firm’s Asset Allocation Committee and the Collectives Investment Group.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Investment strategy & asset allocation
Daniel Casali
Chief Investment Strategist
Daniel joined Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith and Williamson) in September 2017 as their investment strategist. This followed 7 years as an in-house strategist for Hong Kong asset managers, Ajia Partners and RAYS Capital. Daniel had first moved to Asia to join Merrill Lynch as a Regional Equity Strategist in 2007, after spending 13 years at London-based global macro consultancy and asset allocation firm, Independent Strategy.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Rob Clarry
Associate director
Rob sits in Investment Strategy team at Evelyn Partners. He primarily focuses on investment research and asset allocation. This involves developing quantitative models to enhance the firm’s investment process and advising Fund Managers on both tactical and strategic asset allocation. Rob also writes thought leadership pieces and regularly comments on the latest economic and market developments.
Before joining Evelyn Partners, Rob worked in the Economics practice at PwC. He led teams in the financial and macroeconomics divisions and focused on macroeconomic modelling, scenario analysis, and global investment return assumptions.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
David Goebel
Investment Strategist
David joined Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith & Williamson) in March 2018 to work in the investment strategy team with a focus on the firm’s asset allocation process. He spent the previous 5 years at Kleinwort Benson, where he was responsible for quantitative processes for asset allocation, bond selection, commodities and FX in the investment policy committee. David graduated from the University of Exeter with a degree in Pure & Applied Mathematics in 2006 before starting his career at Barclays and becoming an investment manager at Charles Stanley.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Edward Park
Chief Asset Management Officer
Edward Park joined Evelyn Partners in April 2024 as Chief Asset Management Officer, subject to regulatory approval.
As part of the wider investment management leadership team, he has overall accountability for the group’s centrally managed investment propositions, including its extensive range of pooled funds and suite of Managed Portfolio Service (MPS) strategies which cater for a wide range of risk and goal profiles.
Edward was previously at Brooks Macdonald, where he worked for 15 years, latterly as Chief Investment Officer, and a member of the Executive Committee.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
ESG / responsible investing
Genevra Banszky von Ambroz
Partner, Investment management - funds
Genevra focuses on the management of multi-asset fund-of-fund solutions and funds research. She is Lead Manager of the Sustainable Central Investment Propositions (Sustainable Evelyn Active Portfolios and Sustainable Managed Portfolio Service), and co-manager of the Active Managed Portfolio Service and Defensive Growth Fund.
Genevra joined Evelyn Partners, then Smith & Williamson Investment Management, in September 2008. She became a member of the Multi-Asset team in January 2010, and has since been involved in managing multi-asset fund-of-funds and funds research, with a particular focus on investment companies.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Katrina Brown
Director of responsible investment
Katrina is part of the team at Evelyn Partners which is focusing on the incorporation of ESG factors into the investment process. The firm is working to reflect these priorities within our active ownership programme by encouraging companies to improve business practices.
On graduating from the University of Oxford in 1994, Katrina joined Morgan Grenfell Asset Management (later Deutsche Asset Management) where she was ultimately a Director of Global Equities. Katrina has pursued a consulting career since 2002 with a focus on charities and pension funds. This has allowed her to develop a specialism in responsible investment and, more recently, climate change and TCFD assessments.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Business commentary / entrepreneurs
Toby Tallon (Business owners’ views)
Toby has over 20 years’ experience advising private clients. His focus is on helping entrepreneurs and family businesses with success and succession. His practice also includes high-net-worth individuals, landed and urban estates, clients with residency and domicile issues. Toby is a member of the ICAEW and the CIOT.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Claire Burden (Business turnaround)
Partner, Advisory Consulting
Claire built upon Big Four restructuring and advisory experience with ten years in industry, successfully leading turnaround and transformation programmes and supporting high growth and working capital constrained businesses. With a breadth of Board level and corporate finance experience and a proven track record for operational and strategic delivery, Claire works intelligently and creatively to drive both short term performance improvement and real change over the medium to long-term.
This industry experience provides Claire with commercial acumen and a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face, and importantly, how to alleviate them. Claire has worked across business sizes and sectors with specialisms in energy, renewables, professional services, manufacturing and technology.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Mark Hendry (Cyber security)
Mark leads our cyber security practice. He advises clients on all aspects of information and cyber security risk including; strategic improvement and optimisation, regulatory change, mergers, acquisitions and integrations, incident investigation, response, and recovery.
Mark has extensive knowledge and experience of developing and implementing regulatory change and compliance programmes, as well as handling regulatory issues (NIS, GDPR, DPA, etc.)
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Alistair Shaw (Expanding internationally)
Alistair works with a range of businesses from small start-ups to large privately owned or publicly listed complex businesses. He also regularly works with businesses carrying out transactions or as they prepare for an exit/IPO. Alistair can introduce you to and then oversee the provision of services from other specialist tax advisors within our firm, to the extent required.
Alistair joined Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith & Williamson) in 2017 from EY, having worked in their mid-market team for 10 years. Prior to EY, Alistair worked for PWC, again in their mid-market tax team.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Helen Bassett (Business outsourcing services)
Helen is an accountancy business services specialist with over 20 years' experience helping high growth businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve their financial and business ambitions. She heads up the Business Outsourcing Services division in the Bristol office and leads the local Evelyn Partners Tech sector initiative team.
Skilled in accounting related outsourcing compliance and advisory, Helen is a specialist advisor to tech businesses across multiple verticals; including: fintech, cyber security, agencies, medtech, AI, animatronics, SAAS, mixed reality, realtech, gaming, product development and experience tech. She also supports many UK companies managed from outside the UK.
Helen has particular expertise with cloud accounting, accounting for VAT and Making Tax Digital for VAT and describes herself as a ‘cloud technology enthusiast’ who is passionate about the accounting efficiencies and strategic agility open to businesses through automation.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Stuart Goodman (Corporate finance and transactions)
Stuart focusses on family-owned and entrepreneurial businesses, supporting them through the process of raising finance or selling their business.
Prior to joining the corporate finance team, Stuart worked in an assurance and advisory role, which included supporting a number of clients in both the UK and overseas in acquisition transactions and IPOs. Stuart has also worked as the group financial controller of a Lloyds of London insurance group and as the acting group financial controller of a Middle Eastern-based hotel group. Stuart has a BSc in Mathematics from Imperial College.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Gareth Sawyer (Employee benefits)
A Workplace and Fintech Solutions specialist with over 40 years’ experience advising employers and trustees on: benefit design, implementation, administration, funding, investment and communication, and pension scheme members on: investments and retirement options, as well as acting as professional trustee to DB, DC, and death in service schemes.
Passionate about creating ways to improve the financial knowledge and financial security of as many individuals as possible.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Katie Illman (Legal sector)
Katie is a tax director in our Professional Practices Group specialising in the taxation of international law firms at both the entity and partner level. Before joining the firm, Katie worked at a Big 4 firm for 8 years advising the largest international professional services firms on their global tax profile.
Katie has extensive experience advising firms on their international structure, with a key focus on expansion into new jurisdictions. She regularly advises on partner remuneration arrangements and how to navigate complex partnership-specific anti avoidance legislation.
Her clients are primarily partnerships and partners in professions including solicitors, patent and trademark attorneys, architects and FCA-regulated businesses.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Tom Shave (Fintech sector)
Head of Growth – Professional Services
Tom joined Evelyn Partners (formerly Smith and Williamson) in 2017 after more than 10 years working in the Big Four. He has advised a wide range of clients from UK start-ups through to global multinationals.
Tom has led our fintech and business tax practice during his time at Evelyn Partners.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Our Business and Sector
Paul Geddes (Group CEO)
Group Chief Executive Officer
Paul Geddes joined Evelyn Partners in July 2023 and was appointed as Chief Executive Officer on 6 October 2023.
He was previously CEO of QA Group, a leading provider of higher education and workforce learning programmes and services. Prior to that, Paul spent ten years as CEO of Direct Line, the FTSE 250 insurance group. Having been CEO of the insurance division of the Royal Bank of Scotland, which included the Direct Line, Churchill, Privilege, Green Flag and NIG brands, he was responsible for splitting the division off from the bank and leading the successful IPO of Direct Line Group.
He was also CEO of RBS' Retail Bank in the UK Mainland, including NatWest, and a member of the RBS Group Executive Committee. Before joining RBS, he held a number of marketing roles with well-known retail brands. Paul graduated from Oxford.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Jason Hollands
Managing Director, Corporate Affairs
Jason is our lead spokesperson. He has worked in the investment industry for nearly three decades, at both wealth and asset management firms. He is frequently quoted in the press and has previously written for leading titles including the Financial Times and The Times. He has a regular column in The Herald.
After graduating from Oxford he initially worked as a management consultant before entering the investment industry with Bestinvest, where he worked for nine years until 2002, initially as Head of Research and latterly as Deputy Managing Director. Jason then spent nine years holding senior positions in the asset management industry as Director, Head of Communications & Strategy at ISIS Asset Management and then Director, Head of Corporate Affairs at F&C Asset Management where he was responsible for Investor Relations and Group Communications. He returned to Bestinvest in 2012 ahead of it's 2014 combination with Tilney (now Evelyn Partners).
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Andrew Wilkes (Professional services)
Chief Professional Services Director
Andrew joined the firm in 2004 and was previously head of Tax. In his role as head of the firm’s Professional Services business, from 1 July 2022, he has overall responsibility for client teams working across Assurance and Business Services, Tax and Advisory.
Prior to taking up his management roles, Andrew had various client facing roles helping mid-market, fast growth businesses and their owners. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser, and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team
Neil Coxhead (Fund solutions)
CEO of Evelyn Partners Fund Solutions Ltd
Neil has over 30 years of UK fund industry experience having started his career with RBS (now NatWest) Trustee & Depositary Services back in 1989. Following senior leadership roles at The Bank of New York, Citi and Brown Brothers Harriman, Neil joined CACEIS (the asset servicing arm of Credit Agricole) where he became Managing Director of their new UK Branch. Neil joined EPFL in May 2022 from Waystone where he was Managing Director of their UK ACD business. In his role, Neil is responsible for EPFL's ACD and Fund Administration business.
For press comment or to arrange an interview, please get in touch with the press team