I’ve spent my career dealing with ultra high-net-worth individuals across the globe, helping to evaluate and optimise their portfolios, review investment opportunties and maximise returns. This experience has given me a unique insight into the mindset of investors, prominent families and wealthy individuals.Often with a big vision, these individuals are keen to leave something behind for the benefit of future generations, investing in philanthropic projects close to their heart with the potential to create long-term profits. Despite being savvy and successful in business with a talent for identifying profit-making ventures, they often struggle to connect with the brands and people capable of turning their vision into a viable and sustainable business. That’s why I created Shamal.There was need for a specialist company that could offer an ‘end-to-end’ project management solution for global investors. A full turn-key service designed to link prominent businesses and visionaries with prestigious brands looking to expand their presence globally. Focusing on the education sector, we have built a global reputation for excellence, adding value at every stage, from initial idea to design, build and launch, including ongoing asset management, post-launch.

Responsible for global sales of AIG's (Isle of Man) retail and institutional products excluding North America. My key responsibilities were to manage and co-ordinate local-based sales teams and develop new relationships with the private banking sector based in Switzerland and other offshore locations. I was also responsible for managing key UK-based stakeholders who invested funds from through AIG products, which resulted in the management of annual funds of 1.3 billion GBP. We also developed a key relationship with Credit Suisse Gibraltar and Zurich, which developed AIG products to be promoted to their clients through its relationship management structure, with all funds held by AIG Isle of Man being held in custody by Credit Suisse. This agreement resulted in opening distribution for AIG to a new global client and ensured Credit Suisse received over 3 billion USD in custodial funds.

I was recruited to lead a team of sales consultants covering southern Europe. My main responsibilities were to ensure the successful transfer of all business activities from the non-regulated markets across to the new European-regulated company based in Dublin, Ireland. The transfer of these clients and legal framework then traversed into ensuring continuation of business from all key stakeholders in southern Europe. My role also included identifying and establishing key relationships with local banks and funds, which were accessible through the passporting rules under the European Savings Directive.

My role dealt with advising existing UK clients who had migrated and worked in foreign countries in Europe and Africa on existing pensions held in UK-regulated products. My main areas of coverage were Russia, East Africa and Hong Kong. I established a sales team located in each territory with the remit to expand and build on the existing client base and create new relationships that were able to access international product offerings. These ranged from savings through to specific investment holdings in bespoke offshore structures.

I was recruited and trained in-house in all aspects of sales of Prudential products to existing Prudential clients. These products licensed by the Financial Services Commission UK, ranged from traditional pooled investment funds, through to specific additional voluntary contribution pension schemes provided by Prudential in association with the UK government for teachers Superannuation Pension Scheme. During my Prudential career I received, as part of a fast-track management program, specific training in sales and development management, asset management structuring and building and working with in-house divisions on creation of new products for distribution across the Home Service division. I led a specific team allocated to the south of the UK in delivering all pension advice to teachers in both the private and public sector on the benefits of the teachers additional superannuation scheme, which Prudential has been awarded by the UK government on an exclusive arrangement.