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Meet the team

Directors and Investment Team

Phil Simmonds
LL.B(Hons), MBA, FPFS, Chartered MCSI

Chief Executive – Private Office Asset Management

Phil founded Private Office Asset Management in 2006 and is also the founder and significant shareholder of Simmonds Private Office (Hong Kong) - trading in Hong Kong since 1996.

Phil is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and is a qualified CISI Chartered Wealth Manager. He is also a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society as is a qualified Chartered Financial Planner. Phil has worked both on the corporate side & private client side of the investment industry, specialising in bespoke strategies.

Phil spent 3 years working as an investment consultant at Close Brothers Group, – the UK merchant bank, – 2 years as a Director at Brewin Dolphin Securities, and for 6 years was Head of UK Intermediary Business Development and the Charities Division at the global financial services group Collins Stewart Hawkpoint Plc, which was taken over by Canaccord Financial Inc.

Phil worked for 2 years as a consultant for R&H Fund Services (Jersey) Limited, and has appeared regularly on television as the expert on BBC’s It’s Your Money and Sky Digital’s Simply Money program.

Graham Crawford
BA(Econ), MBA, ACIB, MCSI

Chief Investment Officer – Private Office Asset Management

Graham has a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master of Business Administration Degree (MBA). Graham is also member of the Chartered institute of Bankers in Scotland.

Graham’s chairs our monthly Investment Committee meetings which includes our asset allocation committee, out stock selection committee, our Fixed Interest committee, our Fund Selection Committee, Our Alternative Strategy Committee and our performance review Committee. Graham and Phil lead the research and analysis, ably assisted by Harry Elliman and Sebastian Simmonds.

Graham also authors the Private Office Asset Management weekly Global Market Update newsletter that we send out to our professional introducing partners and some of our clients who have requested this high level document.

Graham has worked in the investment industry for thirty-five years. He started with the Clydesdale Bank in Scotland before moving to Lloyds Private Banking in Mayfair. Graham, as the investment manager, moved with a team of 3 colleagues to Merrill Lynch International Private Client.

Graham managed the investment portfolios of celebrities, sportsmen and entrepreneurs, – reaching £2bn in assets under management. After leaving Merrill Lynch with another member of the team Graham set up a fund management company in Monaco where he worked for 8 years.

Sebastian Simmonds
BSc.(Hons)

Assistant Investment Manager & Analyst

Sebastian graduated from Kingston University with BSc.(Hons) in Business management with Business Experience, - achieving a 2.1. Having joined the firm part time in 2015, Sebastian took up his position of Assistant Investment Manager in March 2019, where he works directly for Graham Crawford our Investment Director. Sebastian is currently studying for the Chartered Institute for Investment & Securities Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma (Securities).

Sebastian enjoys classic cars, and regular drives his 1964 Triumph TR4 to classic car shows. He also enjoys rock music, - and in particular his annual trek to Donnington Park for the Download Rock Festival. But most of all he loves investments and research!

Compliance and Paraplanning

Shaun Melody
DipPFS

Compliance Director Head of Compliance & Paraplanning – Private Office Asset Management

Shaun has 37 years of varied experience within the financial services industry.

Shaun worked with the Mayfair Private Banking Office for 5 years where he looked after a business book of 80 Ultra High Net Worth clients, before moving to Lloyds Private Bank where he worked for 6 years on bespoke solutions for investment and banking clients, - liaising with the various inter-bank divisions including the paraplanners, client account teams, financial advisers and investment managers to produce the most appropriate advice to his clients which included wealth management, tax services, will writing and estate planning and management. Shaun was also involved in all of the compliance aspects of the advice.

Latterly Shaun ran his own financial services business, which he sold to a large organisation in 2019. We are delighted to that Shaun joined our business at the beginning of 2020 as Compliance Director - Head of Compliance and Paraplanning, - and he has already proven to be a real asset to the firm and looks forward to a long and progressive career with us. Shaun has played sports to a high-level including cricket and football, and has also braved the abuse to become a prominent referee in the south east. Shaun is also a keen supporter of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.

Louise Weir

Client Liaison/Account set up and transitions

A client of Private Office Asset Management since 2006, Louise possesses a keen interest in investment and financial matters. Louise is a successful businesswoman in her own right and last year sold her business “Love Reading”, which she co-founded. Prior to that Louise was Marketing Director for a leading publishing firm for 7 years, where she led a team of 7 staff. Louise is currently studying for the Chartered Insurance Institute’s Diploma (Level 4) in Regulated Financial Planning - on her way to becoming a qualified paraplanner to assist our IFA’s and Investment team in putting together client reports.

Administration

Michelle Simmonds

PA to Phil Simmonds/Head of Administration

Michelle is an Associate Member of the Personal Finance Society (PFS) and is currently studying her exams en-route to becoming a para-planner. Michelle enjoys riding her horses, keeping fit and ballet.

Dunstan Harris, BA(Hons)

Head Of Social Media

Dunstan graduated from Bournemouth University with a Sports Management degree, and joined the Private Office Group of companies in July 2020, - as Relationship Manager for our Intermediary Partners & Corporate Services.

As a post-graduate and prior to joining us, Dunstan gained valuable experience in marketing and Events Management, which included successful spells developing luxury packaging ranges for clients in high end cosmetics companies, entertainment and hospitality. Dunstan has also been a key figure within a very successful marketing team that have created and developed strategies for global campaigns for brands including Nissan, Redbull and MTV.

Dunstan is naturally well organised with exceptional attention to detail, and as we continue on our own growth strategy he will be continuing our efforts to forge new relationships with professional services firms for both Private Office Asset Management and Simmonds Austin Ryder Solicitors, - as well as assisting in the smooth running of our existing relationships.

Dunstan is also responsible for our Social Media platforms.

Away from work, Dunstan is a keen and very able sportsman, - and is a keen Chelsea FC Supporter. Dunstan is also an accomplished photographer, and enjoys spending time with his young family.