Guernsey Finance names its first country representative in South Africa

Guernsey Finance has appointed Grant McLeod as its first dedicated representative in South Africa.

McLeod has spent more than 20 years in financial services in South Africa, particularly in private wealth, with companies including Ashburton and Barclays Private Wealth.

He will promote the island more widely in sub-Saharan Africa, building on the progress Guernsey has already made in South Africa in recent years in investment funds and private wealth.

McLeod said helping to connect South African clients with Guernsey across all sectors comes naturally. “Guernsey is a jurisdiction well known to most South African investors, and my role is to continue to reinforce Guernsey as the jurisdiction of choice among the South African investment community,” he explained.

James Crawford, director of international business development at Guernsey Finance, emphasised the importance of the hire.

“Guernsey’s key strengths of security, stability and substance have resonated really strongly in South Africa on the visits we have made in the past few years, pre-COVID,” he said.

“It is clear that Guernsey is now a key jurisdiction for wealth managers in South Africa for funds, trusts, pensions and other corporate structures.”

Separately, We Are Guernsey is hosting a webinar as part of its virtual South Africa Funds Roadshow on March 24.