The Founders of IOMA Group are celebrating the 30th Anniversary of one of the Isle of Man’s oldest independent financial services companies by paying homage to the pioneering spirit which launched the business.

Managing Director at IOMA Group, Nigel Wood, comments 'In July 1979, Colin Bowen, some other pirates of Manx and Norwegian origin and I, joined forces with Robin Bigland to sail a replica of a Viking longboat. 

'Robin had created the concept and advertised for volunteers. 

'The open boat was called Odin’s Raven and we sailed and rowed it for six weeks, over 1,800 miles, along an old Viking route from Norway to the Isle of Man to commemorate the Millennium of Tynwald, the Manx parliament.

'It seemed like a good idea at the time and Odin’s Raven certainly changed our lives. Indeed, some of us have eaten out on the story since 1979! 

'But that was not the end of the adventure. We decided to build on the values we’d discovered on the voyage  – resilience, sense of purpose, creativity, responsibility towards others and enjoying ourselves, and join Isle of Man Assurance Limited, so laying the foundations of the IOMA Group.

'Amazingly, we are still together and have continued to attract like-minded, spirited people to the businesses, who similarly want to push boundaries as they seek solutions for our clients.'

Today, the IOMA Group offers a range of wealth management services and risk management solutions to private clients and financial advisers around the world. 

Mr Wood concludes 'We relish challenges and never tire of finding effective solutions for our clients. We have worked hard to ensure that same sense of adventure, enquiry and fun that was so much a part of our Viking experience still pervades the business today.'