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Our people
Our expert teams hold in-depth knowledge and experience of providing advice, combined with a strong focus on providing a friendly, straightforward, client-focused service.
Leadership team
Phillip Wale
Chief Executive Officer and Head of Wealth ManagementPhillip joined Seymour Pierce, the corporate and institutional broker and wealth manager, in 2010 and was appointed its Chief Executive Officer in 2011. Between 2012 and 2016 he was Chief Executive Officer of Panmure Gordon & Co. Prior to joining WH Ireland in August 2018, Phillip was Head of Fixed Income (Europe) at Cantor Fitzgerald Europe.
Robert Race
Joint Deputy Head of Wealth ManagementRobert is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and holds the ASIP qualification with the CFA Society United Kingdom. He joined WH Ireland Limited in 2014.
Robert has over 30 years’ experience advising a number of high net worth individuals and families, trusts and charities across the UK. He chairs the North West Regional Advisory Group of the London Stock Exchange and the Board of Trustees of Wood Street Mission, the Manchester children’s charity founded in 1869 and is a Governor at Manchester Grammar School. He is a past chairman of Pro Manchester, the corporate membership organisation representing the financial and professional service community in and around Greater Manchester.
Craig Allison
Joint Deputy Head of Wealth ManagementCraig is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments and joined WH Ireland in 2012 as an Investment Manager and Head of the Poole office. Originally, from South Yorkshire, Craig began his career with Charles Stanley in London over 20 years ago, before relocating to Dorset in 2010. Craig and the team in Poole manage discretionary funds on behalf of a number of high net worth individuals, families, trusts, and charities across the UK and overseas, together with private client discretionary portfolios on behalf of professional intermediaries. He lives with his young family in Poole and is active in a wide range of local community organisations.
Financial Planners
Phil Sidebottom
Head of Financial Planning One New Bailey, 4 Stanley Street, SalfordHaving graduated from the University of York with a degree in Economics and Economic & Social History, Phil began his career in the wealth management industry in London in 1999. Phil has achieved both Chartered Financial Planner and Chartered Wealth Manager status – qualifications regarded as the ‘gold standard’ of excellence and integrity for the wealth management industry.
Phil is a highly experienced and natural relationship builder and joined WHIreland in 2016 having previously worked at Barclays Wealth Investment Management and Coutts (in Manchester) where he provided specialist advice to high net worth individuals and families. Phil’s focus is to provide tailored financial planning solutions to clients with a particular focus on investment, retirement, and estate planning strategies within tax-efficient structures.
Steve has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry with more than 25 years working as an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). He initially worked with Lloyds Bank and Standard Life. In 1996 he joined his father’s IFA business, Keith Johnston & Partners Ltd, and over the years he helped build this into an extremely successful practice with a first-class reputation. In 2015 Keith Johnston & Partners Ltd was sold to Harpsden Wealth Management Ltd which was subsequently acquired by WH Ireland in 2020.
In 2005, Steve was in the first ever group of individuals to be awarded Chartered Financial Planner status and he remains a committed advocate of raising professional standards throughout the industry. Steve enjoys all aspects of financial planning particularly building long term relationships with his clients and helping them and their families meet all their financial objectives by utilising his experience and expertise.
Roland has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry which he joined straight from university.
He has been an independent financial adviser for over 30 years with a specialism in pensions and retirement planning. He strongly believes pensions should be seen in the context of holistic financial planning and not in isolation. Roland has advised many leading professionals, business owners and individual investors on pensions and retirement planning and has been widely quoted in the national press on pensions issues.
Gerald has over 30 years’ experience of working in the personal financial planning sector. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to WH Ireland, having held various roles including management, advisory and compliance functions within both small and large businesses.
Gerald has a firm belief that financial planning should be delivered with honesty and integrity and that first and foremost it is about helping individuals achieve their objectives. To do this he focuses on understanding his client’s needs, building long-term relationships enabling him to identify and help them achieve their short, medium and long-term financial objectives.
Sean O’Brien
Financial Planner 13 Ravine Road, Canford Cliffs, PooleSean has worked within the financial services sector for the past 13 years, specifically in the advice sector for the last 8 years. Sean is a level 4 qualified financial adviser, holding his diploma in financial planning and specific qualifications in taxation, insurance, and retirement planning. Joining WHIreland in 2019 Sean manages the financial planning needs for clients in our Poole office based in Canford Cliffs and is an advocate for a holistic approach to planning.
Investment Managers
Brinley Knoyle
Investment Manager, Associate DirectorAfter starting his career at Lyddon & Co in 1981 working with administrative and client-facing departments, Brinley became a Portfolio Manager in 1986. In 1991 Brinley joined Henderson Crosthwaite as a Portfolio Manager, subsequently being appointed a Divisional Director and joined WH Ireland in 2002 where he manages portfolios for Individuals, Trustees, Pension Funds and Charities. Brinley is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment ( FCSI).
Kevin began his career in South Africa after the completion of his undergraduate and postgraduate finance degrees, where he spent a few years at a major bank. He then relocated to the UK where he worked for over 15 years at Ruffer LLP, the most of which as an Investment Manager and latterly as an Investment Director. He has a passion for providing the highest level of service to clients as well as a strong interest in financial markets and portfolio management, having gained vast experience in this respect during his career. Kevin is part of the Wealth Management Team at WH Ireland, and is based in the London office. He is responsible for the management of discretionary investment portfolios for Private Clients, SIPPs, Trusts and Charities.
Kevin is Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (UK) and joined WH Ireland in 2023.
Tom joined WH Ireland as a Graduate Trainee in Wealth Management in 2022; he holds the level 4 qualification in Investment Management and is now a working towards his CFA qualifications.
After attending Oundle School in Peterborough, Tom studied at the University of Newcastle, attaining a 2.1 Ba (Hons) in History specialising in Modern History.
Tom has previous experience working with Investment Managers at Charles Stanley which helped develop his understanding of the industry. Prior to that, he has worked as a labourer in construction and within the Hospitality sector.
Tom is a keen fan of Northampton Saints rugby team and enjoys playing sport in his free time.
Research Department
Robert Matthews
Chartered Wealth Manager and Head of ResearchA Chartered Wealth Manager and Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, Robert has been with WH Ireland since the foundation of the Poole Office in 2012. Robert sits on both the stock selection, collectives and asset allocation committees within WH Ireland and is responsible for stock and fund research for the Poole Office. Robert manages both Discretionary and Advisory portfolios for individuals, Charities, SIPPs and Trusts. Outside of work, when not kept busy by his two young daughters, Robert is active in the local community and is currently Treasurer of Dorchester Round Table – a charitable organisation that raises funds for local good causes.
Ollie joined WH Ireland as a Research & Operations Analyst in December 2022. Prior to this, he worked as an administrator in wealth management and participated in WH Ireland’s acquisition of Harpsden Wealth Management. Ollie graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2019, with a BSc in Biology and has since passed all three levels of the CFA.
Ross joined WH Ireland in September 2021 after graduating from Queens University with an MSc Honours degree in Finance. Prior to this he attained a BSc in Finance and Investment Banking from the University of Reading. Ross’s work has combined fund selection with broad macroeconomic, multi asset research and analysis. Ross is currently a CFA level 2 candidate.
With over two years of financial audit experience after graduating from Newcastle University in 2020, Carrie joined WH Ireland as a research analyst in the Research Department. In this role, she supports research in global asset markets and contributes to the processes of Asset Allocation and investment vehicle selection. Currently, she is a CFA Level 3 candidate.
Trading Desk
Tom has spent over 20 years in the financial services industry, starting his career at private client stockbroker Carr Sheppards Crosthwaite.
In 2004, he moved to Walker Crips Investment Management where he qualified as an Investment Manager. Tom joined the dealing desk at WH Ireland in 2012, subsequently progressing to Head of Dealing for the Wealth Management division in 2018. Tom now leads the new Trading Desk at WH Ireland, providing a dedicated Execution Only Service to our private clients. Tom is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.
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