Advisory Board

Andy Love FCIS

Andy was the MP for Edmonton from 1997 until standing down at the 2015 General Election. During his last ten years in Parliament he was a prominent member of the Treasury Select Committee (TSC) during a turbulent period in Financial Services and took a strong interest in Regulation during the TSC investigations into the failure of Northern Rock in 2007 and subsequent crisis across UK Financial Service in 2008-09. Then after the Libor scandal broke in 2012, he was one of only four MPs from the TSC asked to sit on the Parliamentary Commission into Banking Standards, whose findings led to far reaching changes in Regulation, including the introduction of the Senior Managers Regime. Since stepping down, Andy retains his political interests, chairs a local Housing Association and is considering various NED roles.

Brian Harte FCA

Brian, a business graduate, qualified as a Chartered Accountant with a Big 4 firm. He then held a variety of audit roles with The Chase Manhattan Bank NA (Chase) both in the UK & overseas returning in 1988, as Head of Compliance, when the first full UK Compliance Regime came into force and was therefore instrumental in setting up Compliance in the Region. During a period of rapid change, including Chemical Bank’s acquisition of Chase (renamed The Chase Manhattan Bank) and later the acquisition of the Robert Fleming banking group, he headed up Compliance and a variety of other ancillary roles for all of EMEA as well as the UK.  After helping with the integration project after the acquisition of JP Morgan, in 2001 he was headhunted to Barclays where he became their first Global Head of Compliance & Regulatory Affairs, heading up a team of 350 across the Group. In 2006 he moved to RBC again in a pan global role including some time based in the Asia Pacific after which he set up his own consultancy, advising major trade associations and firms both in the UK & globally, whilst considering NED roles.

Sam Stewart FCA

Sam has over 20 years compliance experience gained as a practitioner, advisor and regulator. He is a founder and director of AML Solutions Group which provides MLRO and other AML services to clients in the UK and Ireland. He has held Compliance Officer and MLRO positions in both Ireland and the UK and has previously been EMEA Head of Compliance for both Northern Trust and State Street Global Advisors. Before that he was a Director at Deloitte’s Regulatory Consulting division having started his compliance career as Head of Asset Management Investigations at the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (as it is now known). Sam is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments and currently considering NED roles.

Peter Dunphy

Peter has worked in the City in recruitment, insurance and investment. He founded Darwin Rhodes which became the largest insurance recruiter globally, was CEO until sale of the business in 2011 and has also worked as a private equity investment director. He is an NED of a leading independent regulated banking group and previously Chair of the Finance and Administration Committee for the Liberal Democrats (and still responsible for overseeing the financial compliance of the party). He is also an elected City of London councillor for the ward of Cornhill (elected in 2009 and re-elected in 2013 and 2017), chairs the City Licencing Committee and sits on various other bodies including the Court of Common Council.

Testimonials

Head of Risk & Compliance – Heartwood

Unlike many other Search agencies, Symes Collins demonstrated a clear understanding of not only the role and firm they were recruiting for, but the qualities of the desired individual, their new colleagues and the necessary cultural fit.  This ensured that there were no surprises on either side, resulting in the candidate and firm alike knowing what to expect from the very first day of the new role.

Recruitment Manager – Henderson

I have worked with Symes Collins on a number of searches over the last couple of years, and have always been very impressed with the level of service I have received. They operate in a very tight, candidate-driven market, where their previous industry knowledge is invaluable, not only in sourcing the right candidates, but providing insights into the market more broadly. They appear to be very well networked at the senior end of the market, and I wouldn’t hesitate to engage them again.

Head of Human Resources – European Bank

I have worked with Symes Collins on a number of senior Compliance assignments, which they have successfully completed. Their service has been very impressive. They take the time to understand the organisation, our culture and the role and then successfully match candidates to each of these. Their industry knowledge and expertise means they tend to find candidates who are not typically actively looking for  new roles and this ability really distinguishes them from other providers.