Our 2021 Judges...

Ben has over 17 years’ experience in financial services, and specifically in the platform space for the last 8. Prior to joining Altus, he worked for both Cofunds and Ascentric, building and launching new products and propositions as well as navigating the complicated world of regulatory change. Ben works with a wide range of Altus clients across the UK and South Africa, helping them understand the future of the platform landscape, the impact change will have on running their businesses and how they can improve the efficiency of their operations. Ben writes for and provides commentary to a number of wellknown financial services publications. He co-authored the 2018 Altus white paper “Giving your platform wings” and his dream is to see all platforms in profit by 2025.

Gillian has over 30 years experience in financial services and has recently joined Schroders as Intermediary Solutions Director. Previously, Gillian had an extensive career at Standard Life followed by consultancy positions with a range of platform providers, asset managers, life companies and financial advisers. In 2016 she founded DISCUS, a business providing research, insight and educational content for financial advisers about the outsourced investment market and discretionary managers. Following an acquisition of the business by the Embark Group she continued to develop DISCUS, provided expert consultancy services for the launch of the Embark platform and was Head of Strategic Partnerships. Gillian has an MA in English Literature and an MBA from the Open Business School and is a keen runner and reader.

At Triple Point I am in charge of helping to build and execute the sales strategy for Triple Point’s new and existing retail products as well as increasing awareness of them within the adviser industry. Prior to Triple Point I spent over seven years working at the financial product distribution company LGBR Capital, where I was head of their Tax Efficient Investment Division, LightTower Partners, and as such was responsible for creating, organising and implementing the distribution strategy for the EIS, VCT and IHT products the firm represented.

Paul is managing director of Scopic Research, the UK's first fund research business dedicated solely to researching multi-asset solutions. Paul was one of the first to categorise and research multi asset funds based upon their investment outcomes and expected return patterns. Before founding Scopic in 2009, he led the investment communications strategy for Fidelity’s unfettered multi-asset business. Between 2001 and 2005 he was a member of the management team and investment research committee at the advisory firm, Bates Investment Services Ltd, where as well as conducting fund research, he led investment communications.

Rohan Sivajoti is the co-founder of NextGen Planners, a 300+ strong community of the finest across financial services and co-creator of the award winning NextGen Planners Training Contract. He also owns financial planning practice Postcard Planning and when not working, can be found playing cricket or eating too much caramel shortbread.

Rory Percival was ‘the face of the FCA’ to advisory firms for many years. He worked at the regulator for 10 years and was involved with many high profile projects such as risk profiling, centralised investment propositions, the RDR, research and due diligence, and the assessing suitability review as well as speaking regularly at conferences. Prior to joining the regulator Rory worked in the advisory for sector for 20 years mainly in compliance and training roles. He has Chartered Financial Planner status. In November 2016 he launched his own firm – Rory Percival Training and Consultancy Ltd to help support professionalism in the advisory sector.

30 years working in financial services with 15 years as CEO. A clear focus on strategy, operations and business development in regulated businesses, coupled with a track record of successful business restructuring, integration and transformation. To ensure the customer is at the heart of the business and to provide the platform for growth. A leadership, style designed to inspire and motivate employees, coupled with an emphasis on team building, to support, encourage and challenge people to excel. CEO of Sandringham Financial Partners since August 2015. Previous CEO roles include James Hay Partnership and IFG Financial Services.