CORPORATE / TRUST / FUNDS / ACCOUNTING
ESTERA LAUNCHED ITS NEW BRAND AND IDENTITY EARLIER THIS YEAR, FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL MBO FROM APPLEBY GROUP IN DECEMBER 2015. ESTERA IS LED BY CEO, FARAH BALLANDS, WHO IS SUPPORTED BY GROUP DIRECTORS, RICHARD PROSSER AND PATRICK JONES.
Farah Ballands Chief Executive Officer
Richard Prosser Group Director
Recognised by numerous leading publications and industry bodies including WealthBriefing’s European Awards - Women in Wealth Management 2016, Farah tells us a little more about the secret of her success.
During his 30 years in the finance industry, Richard has worked with clients around the world. He shares some of this experience with us.
Q. What is the best piece of advice that has been given to you?
A. We have always had a global client base. Most HNWIs and families are international in their reach and outlook, and are much less focused on a single jurisdiction.
A. It is not really advice, but I think that the best guide by which to live is to treat others as you wish to be treated. Q. What motivates you? A. I am a fairly driven person and success motivates me. I love being part of a large, ambitious team which is focussed on growing our business. Q. How would you describe your working style? A. I am very people-oriented and enjoy working as part of a team and collaborating with others to achieve a common goal. Q. What professional achievement are you most proud of? A. The Estera team and all that we have accomplished. Many of us have worked together for more than 14 years. This longevity and commitment is reflected in many of our client relationships. Q. Do you have any tips for achieving a good work-life balance? A. I wish that someone could give me a few tips on how to achieve a good work-life balance! Seriously, I feel very lucky to live in Jersey where it is possible to combine having a good career with an excellent environment in which to raise a family.
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Q. Where are the majority of your clients based?
Q. Where do you think future demand for wealth structuring will come from? A. With increasing instability around the world, clients are looking for stable and well regulated jurisdictions in which to place their structures. The demand comes from across the globe, but there is probably more interest from Asia and the Middle East. Q. What do you enjoy the most about being part of a global business? A. Being able to offer a number of jurisdictional options means we can be genuinely agnostic and focus on what is in our clients’ best interests, including multi-jurisdictional structures. Interacting with our offices and teams around the world gives us a genuine insight into these jurisdictions and means we can advise our clients from a position of knowledge. Q. What is the most memorable city you have visited? A. I have been lucky enough to visit many wonderful cities, but my favourites are Seville and Paris.
Patrick Jones Group Director Patrick practiced law, working in London and Paris, before moving into the finance industry in Jersey. He explains why he made the move and why he is excited about the future. Q. What prompted you to move from practicing law in London to the finance industry and ultimately Estera? A. The commute! With two children and a third on the way, working between London and Paris was glamorous but hardly conducive to family life (or so my wife told me!). Whilst it was a lifestyle decision, I was pleasantly surprised by both the quality of life and the great quality of work available in Jersey. Q. What sets Estera apart from its competitors? A. We share a common commitment to service excellence – we have great clients and there is real pride in working with them to deliver the highest quality of service. This, combined with the professional and forward-thinking environment in which we work and an ethos of mutual support and collaboration is what, I believe, differentiates us. Q. What do you see as the greatest opportunities for the finance industry? A. Speaking from a Jersey perspective, the finance industry’s credibility is regularly recognised through reports and awards – in this regard, I think we have much to thank our regulators for. The recent Moneyval report, for example, highlights Jersey’s position as a leading jurisdiction in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism. As an international finance centre that competes on a global stage, this is not just something to be very proud of, but something which also presents real opportunities.
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