Michel van Leeuwen, an experienced financial services and fintech business leader who brings industry expertise from leadership roles at Cordium and Microsoft Capital Markets, has joined Hawksford as group chief executive to lead the delivery of its ambitious growth plans.
The appointment underpins Hawksford’s focus on an accelerated growth strategy, which will see the business expand its core corporate, private client and funds service lines while simultaneously introducing additional ancillary services that benefit clients. The growth strategy considers both organic and strategic inorganic initiatives. The company, backed by UK private equity firm Dunedin, plans to at minimum double its overall size and increase its geographical footprint over the next three to five years.
Mr van Leeuwen will apply his experience in financial services technology and business optimisation to help raise the client services processes at Hawksford to an even higher level. This will ensure that both current and future clients, as well as the expanding team of professionals at Hawksford, will benefit while simultaneously delivering growth.
Mr van Leeuwen said ‘Hawksford has a strong leadership team which I look forward to working alongside to deliver the company’s strategic plan. The company has many excellent qualities, including the ability to be flexible and nimble in a busy marketplace delivering rigorous technical expertise. I look forward to harnessing these attributes and building on the established momentum for the next stage of Hawksford’s growth.
‘The opportunity to integrate additional service lines and technology into Hawksford will result in best of breed service delivery across all business lines. The objective is to create a “one stop shop” service provider for both new and existing clients around the world reducing cost and inefficiency.’
Mr van Leeuwen’s thirty years of experience includes leadership roles at high profile businesses. Prior to joining Hawksford he was group CEO of Cordium, a market-leading provider of regulatory compliance consulting services to the asset management and securities industry. Cordium delivered strong organic growth and integrated various strategic acquisitions. Cordium was backed by Sovereign Capital who received industry accolades for the successful exit from Cordium at the Private Equity Awards in 2015.
Prior to Cordium, Mr van Leeuwen served as managing director of Microsoft Worldwide Capital Markets and was responsible for delivering nearly a billion US$ in revenue across the global capital markets industry. He also served as CEO of the Risk Management division at Misys plc and was a member of its operating board. Earlier positions include senior roles at State Street Bank and Algorithmics.
Philip Taylor, chairman of Hawksford, said, ‘We are thrilled that a business leader of Michel’s calibre has been appointed to lead Hawksford. The business is poised for significant growth and his specialist market knowledge and M&A experience will be vital in helping Hawksford to achieve its international ambitions. Acting CEO Michael Powell and CFO Steve Spybey have ensured that Mr van Leeuwen will take the reins of a well-structured business that is poised for growth.’
Mr Powell, a founding member of the team that performed the management buyout of Rathbones in 2008, continues to focus on delivering his expertise to Hawksford’s clients while remaining a highly valued director and member of the board. Mr van Leeuwen intends to relocate to Jersey for his new role.
Hawksford has 220 employees and offices in Jersey, the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
Back to top