You’ll forgive I hope another missive so soon after the last one but we really wanted to share some good news with you as we have added a wealth of experience to our senior management team with the addition of three new directors.
Philip J Milton and Company Plc has welcomed two highly respected figures in the finance and investment industry to our senior management and who between them bring 75 years’ experience to the Firm.
Hugely experienced fund manager Peter Elston has joined as a director, while global investment expert Adam Cooke will be on the board too as non-executive Chairman. Completing the trio of new directors is Firm incumbent Felix Milton, who at age 28 nonetheless has 10 years’ experience under his belt. They join the existing board of myself and Helen Milton, Scott Pickard, Sandra Bright and Nikki Baker, with more than 150 years in the financial sector between them.
We already look after £230million for you, our clients, and the latest additions will expand our senior team to build on its strengths, adding more skills and creating a broader foundation of senior management. Peter and Adam bring a great deal to the Company. Bringing them onboard is very much about adding even greater strength and depth to our already excellent team and to our business.
No one has left and I am certainly not going anywhere! This is all about expansion and a natural evolution of the business. The funds currently under our management are not far off from their highest ever in more than 38 years in business and despite the pandemic and a difficult 2022, we navigated the difficulties better than many.
Peter Elston and Adam Cooke
Peter and Adam are highly experienced and skilled. They both bring a great deal to the table including a strong knowledge of overseas’ markets. They also bring proven track records in investment and fund management, especially covering Investment Trusts and alternative funds. Felix is also highly qualified and talented and has more than earned his place as a director.
Peter has worked in fund management (including as a Chief Investment Officer at a financial institution) for more than 30 years. Half of these three or so decades was spent at two major fund management companies, mostly in Asia where he specialised, respectively, in Asian equities and global asset allocation. His more recent experience back home since 2014 saw him successfully leading an investment team and building on his asset allocation experience but covering alternative funds in the UK market too.
A short message from Peter: “I am very pleased to join a very successful firm in PJM&Co, one which has a gold-plated culture and a relentlessly client-focussed approach. The Firm has strong values towards its clients and strives to do the absolute best for them. It also has a sensible approach to investment risk, incorporating a very wide range of assets across numerous sectors, giving clients the broadest possible investment opportunities.”
Adam Cooke has four decades in the investment industry and was a director of three companies up to 2015, as well as previously being a global partner at international giant Invesco.
Adam said: “I have known Philip and the business for nearly 30 years and am delighted to play my part in sustaining the Company’s excellent culture. I have always admired the Firm’s ability to look at all types of investments for its clients. Furthermore, I believe my experience of North American and European business will be useful as we approach planning for net zero and adapting to meet client requirements for solid returns on their savings.”
New director Felix Milton
Many of you no doubt already know or know of Felix! He is born and bred in North Devon of course and joined the Firm after completing college locally but has gone on to earn many more industry qualifications including that of Chartered Financial Planner.
A short message from Felix: “I am delighted to become a director and very much look forward to adopting new responsibilities within the Board and building upon my existing experience, especially in the field of investment management and research.”
And finally – last bit of good news!
Some of you may already be aware, but this isn’t our only news!
Co-director Mrs Sandra Bright has just married Nick and Felix has announced his wedding to Emma in November! Not to be outdone by her brother, sister Esme (who has just qualified as a doctor) has announced her own marriage too, to Haydn, so a busy time ahead! Fortunately, as participants in the same investment and financial planning strategies as have been successful for our clients, I am pleased to report prudent provision was made a long time ago. However, we shall trust our other two children will give us a little breathing space before cementing their arrangements!
My best wishes
Philip J Milton DipFS CFPCM Chartered MCSI FPFS FCIB
Chartered Wealth Manager
Fellow Of The Personal Finance Society, Fellow Of The Chartered Institute Of Bankers
