In his role, Jersey-based Ashley will take a lead on client service delivery, with a particular focus on the firm’s Ultra High Net Worth (UHNW) clients across the UK, Ireland, the Middle East and Africa. He will also oversee the management of a broad range of trust and corporate structures holding a wide range of assets.

With more than 25 years’ experience in the finance industry supporting the specialist needs of multi-jurisdictional clients, Ashley joins Crestbridge having previously worked for more than two decades at a major global bank. In a number of senior level roles, he has built considerable expertise in the private client sector, providing specialist support in the management of various asset classes including discretionary and advisory managed portfolios, private equity investments, gold and commercial property.

He is a member of STEP and holds the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management.

Ashley’s appointment maintains Crestbridge’s growth trajectory this year, which has seen the addition of significant senior industry expertise to the privately-owned firm’s team, to support its client base of top-end global families.

Commenting on Ashley’s appointment, Crestbridge Managing Director, Steve Le Seelleur, said: “Ashley’s appointment underlines our aim to attract experienced, senior industry leaders to our team, as we continue to grow as a business and, importantly, retain our focus on delivering top tier service to Ultra High Net Worth families. I’m really pleased to welcome someone of Ashley’s calibre to the team and look forward to working with him as we continue to evolve and enhance our range of solutions for global families of wealth.”

Ashley added: “Crestbridge has earned a fantastic reputation, both as a firm that stands out for its service delivery and for its ‘people culture’ and commitment to nurturing a highly experienced, driven team. Those two factors are inextricably linked and align with my own passion for working with and supporting teams where the focus is absolutely on quality and excellence. I’m looking forward to joining with my colleagues to ensure we continue to deliver outstanding service to our high-end portfolio of global clients.”

Crestbridge Family Office Services (FOS) Assistant Manager Tallie Renouf has received further industry recognition, being included in a list identifying future leaders within the private client industry across the UK and Crown Dependencies.

Tallie is one of the industry’s stand-out young talents recognised in the latest ‘UK and Crown Dependencies NextGen Leaders List’, published this month by eprivateclient (8 September).  Through her inclusion in the national list, she is noted as combining a strong academic record and class topping exam results with a firm commitment to continuous self-improvement and professional development.

Tallie works on a number of the firm’s dynamic and complex structures, providing support to Crestbridge’s team of directors, while she has also taken on the role of mentor to other emerging talent in the team and helps with the organisation of various initiatives as part of firm’s charity committee.

The annual list from eprivateclient recognises and celebrates young practitioners working in diverse areas of the private client sector across the entirety of the UK as well as Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. In compiling the list, judges consider a number of factors, including expertise, achievements over the past year, career progression and company performance.

Tallie was also featured in eprivateclient’s ‘Channel Islands NextGen Leaders List’, published in June.

Commenting on Tallie’s latest success, Steve Le Seelleur, Managing Director, Crestbridge Family Office Services, said:

“Tallie embodies Crestbridge’s ethos, leading by example to bring intellect, aptitude and drive to our team. She fully deserves this national recognition, which builds on her success earlier this year. Being consistently included in initiatives like this is a reflection of the focus Crestbridge has on nurturing young talent and creating an environment where everyone can grow and thrive.”

Following the arrival of Steve Sokić as Chairman earlier this year and alongside CEO Heather Tibbo, Steve Le Seelleur brings further significant senior industry expertise to the independent and privately-owned private client trust and family office-focused firm, as it continues to pursue a strategy of growth.

In his role as Managing Director, Steve has responsibility for the performance of the business, working alongside Heather Tibbo and Steve Sokić to lead a team of highly talented and experienced trust professionals to ensure the delivery of exceptional client service. His arrival reflects Crestbridge FOS’s commitment to the sector, clients and future growth, with the firm having recorded strong organic growth since its inception in 2013, driven by its focus on attracting industry leading professionals, supporting top-end global families, and delivering innovative solutions to NextGen clients.

With more than 25 years’ experience in the fiduciary and wealth management industry, Steve is an experienced practitioner across multiple jurisdictions, with particular experience in the Middle East

Prior to joining Crestbridge FOS, Steve was Managing Director of the Jersey office of a private equity-owned global financial services business and before that was a Director and Member of the Executive Committee of HSBC Private Bank’s trust business in Jersey. He has also sat on the boards of Private Trust Companies and has vast experience managing structures with a wide variety of asset classes. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Commenting on Steve’s appointment, Crestbridge FOS CEO Heather Tibbo said:

“Since establishing the business in 2013, our vision has always been to set new standards of technical expertise and service excellence within our discipline. A senior executive team that can clearly demonstrate those qualities is absolutely critical, and for that reason I’m delighted to welcome someone of Steve’s calibre to the business. The experience and knowledge he has gained throughout his -career, together with his proven ability to lead and develop teams and his belief in the importance of client service, will be invaluable as we continue to support our clients with their wealth planning needs and pursue our bold and ambitious growth plans.”

Steve Le Seelleur added:

“Crestbridge Family Office Services has earned a fantastic reputation in the trust, family office and UHNW private client space, and that is thanks to the quality of its people and the emphasis it places on service quality. It’s a privilege to be joining a business that shares my own values, that demonstrates such a positive people culture, and that has a really high-end portfolio of global clients.  I’m looking forward to working closely with Heather and Steve, as well as my colleagues right across the business, to help us achieve our collective goals.”

Charlie Lucas, who has experience working for clients across a variety of asset classes including discretionary investment portfolios, private equity and real estate, has been promoted to Senior Administrator, whilst Darren Rostron, who provides support for a number of different client structures including discretionary and charitable trusts, private trust companies and foundations, has been made Administrator.

Effective from 1 July 2025, the promotions recognise Charlie and Darren’s achievements over the past year, as well as their ongoing commitment to professional development.

Congratulating them, Paul Hunter, Senior Director, Crestbridge FOS, said:

“Our focus continues to be to ensure we provide an environment where our people can learn, grow and thrive – and it’s in that light that we are delighted to be able to recognise Charlie and Darren’s efforts with the promotions they deserve. Our success as a business is built on the contribution of our whole team, and that’s an ethos that will continue to guide us as we look forward to the second half of 2025 and beyond.”

Tallie is one of the industry’s stand-out young talents recognised in the latest Crown Dependencies NextGen Leaders List, published this month by eprivateclient (11 June). She is noted as combining a strong academic record and a commitment to continuous self-improvement with emotional intelligence and considerable experience – working on a number of the firm’s dynamic and complex structures. She also acts as a mentor to other emerging talent in the team.

The annual list recognises and celebrates young practitioners working in diverse areas of the private client sector in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. To be featured in the list, judges consider a number of factors, including individual expertise and achievements over the past 12 months, career progression, feedback from colleagues, and the performance of their company.

Mark Beer, Client Director, Crestbridge Family Office Services, said: “Crestbridge has a strong track-record in nurturing young talent, reflecting our commitment to creating an environment where everyone can thrive. Tallie fully deserves this recognition. She leads by example, through her commitment to professional development, her ability to work as a real team player, and her impressive technical knowledge. Tallie has built strong, trusted relationships with clients, who consistently praise her responsiveness, professionalism, and technical expertise. She is an ambassador for what we stand for at Crestbridge.”

Jersey-based Stephanie is included in the ePrivateClient 2024 NextGen Leaders List, published today(9^th September). The list recognises and celebrates rising stars from across the private client landscape in the UK and Crown Dependencies.

In compiling the list, the publication considers a number of factors, including individual expertise and achievements over the past 12 months, career progression, feedback from colleagues, and the performance of their company.

Stephanie was also included in the eprivateclient 2024 NextGen Leaders Channel Islands List, published earlier this year.

Stephanie has over 11 years’ experience in dealing with complex and sensitive structures on behalf of global families. Working with both private wealth and corporate vehicles, she assists with the establishment and ongoing administration of a broad range of structures for UHNWIs in the Middle East. A mentor to other team members, Stephanie holds the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management.

Heather Tibbo, Chief Executive Officer of Crestbridge Family Office Services, said: “We are really proud of the focus we have as a firm on attracting and nurturing talent and providing an environment for our people to thrive, and that focus is reflected in the fact that our people have featured regularly in this list over recent years.

“As we continue to grow and evolve as an independent and privately owned business, the strength of our team will be pivotal in differentiating us in the market. With that in mind, I’m delighted that Stephanie has been recognised on the national stage. Her enthusiasm, collaborative approach and understanding of the importance of service quality makes her a great ambassador for Crestbridge Family Office Services.”

In that time he has worked with and helped manage a broad range of complex and multi-jurisdictional fiduciary structures for high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals, and has developed experience in the Middle East family office market.

In more recent years, he has become highly involved in supporting the philanthropic activities of clients, including managing multi-trustee structures.  Mr Hind is also a full member of STEP.

Why do you specialise in this area?

Having worked in fiduciary services for approaching three decades, I think there’s been a natural gravitation towards philanthropic structures as families have become more and more sophisticated and outward looking with their wealth. The ability to assist clients with their philanthropic structuring needs, help them develop and implement their purpose-driven strategies, and shape their conversations in this space is very rewarding.

Why is philanthropy so important to the industry?

You can look at this externally, and internally from a family’s perspective. Externally, clearly there is a real need for private capital to step up and support good causes. With public spending unable to keep up with the demand for funding of increasingly diverse societal and environmental charities, there’s both a necessity and an opportunity for private capital to play a big part.

Internally, there are clear benefits to a family pursuing a formal approach to philanthropy. In particular, in a world where the court of public opinion holds real sway and wealthy families are under intense scrutiny, there are reputational benefits for a family to engage in supporting charitable initiatives.

There are operational benefits too – implementing a philanthropic strategy can help reinforce key family values, which is really important in terms of family cohesion, and when it comes to communicating those values to the next generation. A philanthropic strategy can also provide a good ‘ringfenced’ channel for families to educate the nextgen – giving them a certain amount of autonomy but within clear parameters, philanthropy can create a training ground for the nextgen.

What are the key trends shaping philanthropy at the moment?

There’s a definite movement towards greater sophistication amongst families when it comes to implementing philanthropic strategies.

At a strategic level, the concept of ‘purpose’ is increasingly important when it comes to families considering how they can manage their wealth with a conscience. We are starting to see, for instance, roles such as Head of Philanthropy increasingly within family offices, and families are looking more and more at different types of philanthropic activity – differentiating between charitable giving, impact investing and seed investing, for instance. Families are also integrating philanthropy more with their wider wealth, business and investment activities.

In tandem, families are also becoming more focused on how their philanthropic endeavours are not just driven by the personal values of a patriarch or matriarch but are underpinned by shared family values. That’s crucial where complex, multigenerational families are displaying diverse viewpoints. Philanthropy can play a role in bringing family members together, which is vital in terms of succession planning.

Regulatory evolution – reporting, disclosure, ESG credentials and so on – is playing an increasingly important role too and navigating that often that means drawing on specialist outsourced support. Advisers have a duty to help families recognise what is important, supporting them in applying a more conscious approach in line with their governance framework, and providing guidance with measuring value – an increasingly important area of evolution.

What are your favourite ways to relax/switch off from work?

I am a new convert to golf, so I spend many hours spoiling a good walk! I also enjoy reading historic novels and dining out with friends

What’s one book you think everyone should read? 

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. The novel provides historical insight into the French Revolution and features a fascinating cast of characters cleverly blending the themes of love, ambition endurance and sacrifice . It also includes two of the most famous Dickensian opening and closing lines.

If you couldn’t do your current role what would your dream job be? 

I have always been intrigued at being a palaeontologist – the challenge and painstaking work involved in excavating a fossilised dinosaur fascinates me.

This article was first published by ePrivateclient. 

Niki is promoted to Senior Manager. She has over 14 years’ experience in the finance industry, including private client, corporate services, performance and reward management and family office services. She has been involved in the implementation and administration of a variety of trust and wealth management structures for HNW individuals and UHNW individuals across multiple jurisdictions.  Niki has experience in administering a variety of asset classes including financial global asset portfolios, portfolios of artwork and antiquities and luxury assets, such as yachts and private jets. She holds an ICSA Diploma in Offshore Finance and Administration.

Stephanie, promoted to Assistant Manager, has over a decade’s experience in dealing with complex and sensitive structures, and works with both private wealth and corporate vehicles. Recently named in ePrivateclient’s list of Next Gen Leaders, Stephanie supports UHNW clients in a number of jurisdictions, including the Middle East, USA, and South America.

Juliano joined Crestbridge in 2021 as a Trainee Accountant, supporting the firm across a number of areas include bookkeeping, account preparation, and administration. We are pleased to announce his promotion to Accounts Preparer.

Managing Director Paul Hunter said ‘As our firm continues to grow, one of the great privileges of this role is to see talented members of the team fulfilling their potential. I am delighted for Niki, Stephanie, and Juliano on their achievements. On behalf of the team I wish them the very best of success as they continue on their professional journey.’

In line with the firm’s long-term aspirations, both Emma Sanford, Head of Human Resources, and Simon Logan, Head of Risk and Compliance, have joined the team in order to support its commitment to evolution.

Emma – who has over 20 years strategic and operational experience in Human Resources and Learning and Development across financial services, legal, e-commerce, and public sectors, including most recently in the fund, corporate and fiduciary service provider space – is leading Crestbridge FOS’ HR function. She is playing a pivotal role in implementing a strategy to support the growth of the firm and to reflect the people-focused values of the business.

With particular expertise in talent acquisition, learning and development, employee relations and developing high performing teams, Emma holds an MSc in Human Resources Management from London Southbank University, whilst she is also a verified assessor for occupational, ability and personality tests and holds a Change Management Foundation and Practitioner qualification.

Meanwhile, in his role, Simon focuses on ensuring the business is meeting its regulatory requirements, as well as evaluating the impact of legislative changes and their potential effects on clients and business operations, providing expert insight to colleagues on navigating regulatory matters, and acting as the main contact for the regulatory authorities.

Simon joined Crestbridge FOS having spent six years working within internal audit, followed by a decade in the Tax Office in Jersey, before he transitioned to the financial services sector. He then worked in compliance for a global banking and funds organisation, before taking on a role conducting examinations for the Jersey Financial Services Commission (JFSC).

Both Emma and Simon join the existing senior central services team at Crestbridge FOS, led by CEO Heather Tibbo, that also includes Karen Morris, Head of Finance, Ben Le Lay, Head of Information Technology, and Lesley Piner, Head of Business Development and Marketing.

The growth of Crestbridge FOS’ central team comes at a pivotal time for the firm, which marked its tenth anniversary last year and is now embarking on a new and ambitious growth journey as a fully independent and private business. Earlier this year, the business completed its move to new headquarters in Jersey.

Commenting on the growth of the team, Heather Tibbo said:

“We are continuing to build on the success we have achieved over the past decade and look to the future in this new era as an independent business. We remain absolutely committed to growth and evolving our market-leading proposition, with an ambition to cement our reputation as a major, people-focused player servicing the needs of global families. The strengthening of our central team is a fundamental part of that.

“Working in a collaborative, supportive, open and honest way has always been at the heart of our team ethic and I firmly believe that, with this central team now in place, we have a formidable amount of collective expertise, putting us in a strong position to approach the future with confidence, ready to adapt to and support the shifting needs of families.”

Crestbridge Family Office Services CEO Heather Tibbo has helped grow the business into one of the industry’s most innovative and successful firms. A lawyer by training, Heather has featured in ePrivateclient’s 50 Most Influential List for five consecutive years and has been the recipient of a number of other prestigious awards and accolades. We recently met in London to discuss the sector’s latest trends, and what the future has in store for this thriving and dynamic enterprise.

Tell me a bit about what’s been happening in the business over the last year or so.

It’s been an exciting and extremely busy year for us. In 2023 New York-based Fund Services firm Gen II agreed to purchase the Crestbridge institutional business. With the acquisition now complete our private client business Crestbridge Family Office Services has maintained its status as a privately owned and independent provider, and we have ambitious plans for how we can continue to grow, both in scale and reputation. We have also been celebrating our ten-year anniversary, and we recently moved to new offices in the heart of St Helier.

In early 2020 you also launched Crestbridge Fiduciary with leading US Fiduciary Services provider Willow Street. How are things progressing across the Atlantic?

One of the many benefits of our independence and private ownership is our ability to respond quickly to trends we identify in the marketplace. We were one of the first in our sector to recognise the growing importance of the US as a destination of choice for international families, and our vision and values were a strong fit with those of Willow Street. The venture has gone from strength to strength, and is greatly helped by Willow Street’s Wyoming location, which offers a number of valuable jurisdictional advantages to our clients. It is notable that, since establishing Crestbridge Fiduciary, a number of others in the private client sector have followed suit. We were also pleased to have recently appointed industry professional Darrell King as Managing Director, Americas, based in New York.

You are always quick to recognise and praise your team when you receive industry awards and other accolades. Tell us about your team, and its culture.

Everything we accomplish is a team effort. Regardless of who is being recognised or awarded I try never to lose sight of that. We also work hard to maintain a structure and organisational culture that allows everyone to feel heard, valued, and empowered. We are extremely aware of the fact that the only way we can continue delivering the high standard of service and support that our clients have come to expect is to first ensure that we are looking after one another, and working together towards common goals. Our business is ultimately the sum of its people, and I strongly encourage our leadership team to make the employee experience a top strategic priority.

As a Channel Islands business the pool of available talent is obviously finite. How do you approach recruitment, and ensure that the culture of the firm is preserved?

Finding good people is certainly something upon which we focus a lot of our attention. We have worked hard to create and preserve a collaborative, supportive culture within the firm so recruitment is as much about fit as it is about experience and technical skill. The firm continues to grow strongly, and we have also recently implemented some organisational changes following the sale of the Crestbridge institutional business.

These included the strengthening of our senior central services team who, by providing a more robust layer of managerial support, are enabling our leadership team to be more focused ‘on’ the business – our clients and client service– rather than ‘in’ the business – its day-to-day functional management. The new roles cover areas including Risk and Compliance, Human Resources, and IT, and have allowed us to bring in a huge amount of industry experience and new expertise, and position ourselves strongly to scale our business in the coming years.

Which markets remain attractive for your growth?  Are there any other regions you are looking to develop? 

A key focus for us has always been and remains the Middle East. We visit frequently and are extremely committed to the region. We started building our presence in the Middle East 11 years ago because a colleague had strong connections there. I’m a firm believer in the importance of a clear and distinct value proposition, and we don’t try to be all things to all people.

We also want to continue growing our US business, and we’re seeing increased interest from Asia too. Singapore has a well-supplied market on its doorstep, however, despite it growing in sophistication it’s still quite nascent as a jurisdiction. Clients in the region are often interested in diversification, and a different approach, so will often contact us.

Finally, given the importance of intermediaries to our business, and with so many based in London, this is always a market we pay close attention to.

A critical and closely related consideration in this area is retention, which is only possible by investing in the team, actively managing training and career progression, and creating new development opportunities. We make a point of encouraging senior colleagues to share their experience and insights with others in the firm, whether through coaching, mentoring or through more informal, ad-hoc methods.

What’s your perception of the younger generations coming through today, and what skills do they need to succeed in the industry?

We have some outstanding young talent in the business and already I see many of them emerging as strong leaders of the future. I think Covid has had a significant impact on

many younger people, as it interrupted their careers at a critical point of development. I think the work that we do has value in helping younger people develop confidence and good interpersonal skills by working face to face with people. However, I think that’s where working from home can present certain challenges. Not only are we a highly collaborative team by nature, but as a high-touch service business so much of what we do is underpinned by earning and nurturing a client’s trust over time. That can only happen by being present and working on developing the right skills and a high level of emotional intelligence.