In one of two new appointments, Douglas Grant (pictured) has become the new Group Finance Director at Conister Bank.
Mr Grant, who joined the company in November 2008 as a financial consultant, has also been appointed Group Finance Director of Conister’s parent company, Manx Financial Group.
Simon Hull, Managing Director of Conister Bank and Executive Director of Manx Financial Group, said, "Douglas will play a key role in Conister’s corporate strategy and long-term business planning, and will have overall responsibility for several parts of Manx Financial Group.
"Such a position is vital to the future direction of the Bank and the group, and in Douglas we have someone with the talent and drive to achieve our objectives."
Mr Grant started his career with Scottish Power before moving to the industrial sector to work with ICI and then Allenwest. Prior to joining Conister Bank, he was the Group Financial Controller and later Finance Director of The Steam Packet Group Limited. Douglas has gained substantial experience with various UK and Isle of Man private sector companies and has extensive capital raising experience.
Meanwhile, Kevin Wood has been appointed as Independent Financial Advisor at Conister Bank, with a specific focus on its wealth management service.
Mr Wood brings with him a wealth of experience from a career that has spanned more than 25 years and has included the chairmanship and presidency of industry bodies.
Conister Bank’s Managing Director, Simon Hull, said: “Our wealth management offering is an important part of Conister Bank’s expansion plans, and we need someone of Kevin’s calibre to work alongside Will Ward in developing the business. I believe that we now have a fantastic team who will be able to make significant progress in it’s development”.
Born and educated in the Isle of Man, Mr Wood has spent his entire career in the Manx finance industry. He worked for several major insurance companies in the island, most recently at Moore Stephens Financial Services, where he was initially Senior Wealth Manager and was then invited to join the Board of Directors as Financial Services Director.
From 2001 to 2005 he was Chairman of the Isle of Man Brokers Association, and from that year he was President of the Chartered Insurance Institute, an organisation for which he represents the island and northwest of England at national level.
He is also a senior member of the Personal Finance Society and Vice President of the Insurance and Financial Services Institute, Isle of Man. In addition he has served on several government committees.
In his leisure time Mr Wood is a fan of motorcycle racing, with his own motorcycle racing team through which he helps new racers to compete.
Commenting on his new role Mr Wood said: “I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges this new role will bring, in what we anticipate to be a dynamic period of growth for the Bank.
