One of the Isle of Man finance industry’s most respected figures has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his ‘significant, worthwhile and sustained contribution’ to the business world.
Neal Crookall, Chairman of Ramsey Crookall & Co., received the honour at the prestigious City of London Wealth Management Awards, held at the Guildhall and presided over by the Rt. Hon. Lord Norman Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The presentation was made to Mr Crookall in front of an audience of leading business names by former colleague Brian Winterflood MBE, the founder of Winterflood Securities.
Mr Crookall revealed he had made a last minute dash to the London ceremony after attending a wedding in Douglas earlier in the day, travelling in full evening dress.
“We arrived at the Guildhall while starters were being served and I had no idea I was to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award until I saw the list of categories,” Mr Crookall said. “It came as a complete, but very pleasant surprise.”
“It’s marvellous to think the firm is recognised and well respected in the City, where we have been members of The Provincial Brokers Stock Exchange since 1946 and Members of the London Stock Exchange since 1982.”
“My father would be immensely proud that the firm is so well known in the City, and I am very fortunate in having three children who are all directors in the business and who make a vital contribution, as well as our loyal staff, many of whom have been with us for over 25 years.”
After leaving school in 1959, Mr Crookall joined the firm his father started in 1946 and has been a key figure in the development of the Island’s financial sector. Today he remains responsible for the day-to-day running of Ramsey Crookall, as well as utilising his more than 50 years’ experience of offshore stockbroking to deal for and provide investment advice to private and institutional clients.
During his career, Mr Crookall worked for a major firm as a 'blue button' on the floor of the London Stock Exchange, was elected a Member of the Provincial Brokers Stock Exchange in 1965 and, in 1974, became Senior Partner of the family business, the Isle of Man's longest established independent firm of stockbrokers and investment managers.
Mr Crookall said the Award recognised the importance of the business contribution to the City of London made by offshore islands, especially the Isle of Man, as well as the strengths of Ramsey Crookall & Co.
“We are pretty unique in still having the same independent family structure despite the ‘big bang’ in 1986 when so many of the Stock Exchange firms merged or became part of larger financial institutions,” he said. “Maintaining our independence gave us the freedom to adapt to the changing environment, but still being able to offer that personal service which clients appreciate.”
The City of London Wealth Management Awards recognise quality of service from Wealth Managers and Stockbrokers. In 2012, Ramsey Crookall & Co. Investment Director Stuart Cowan was named Wealth Manager of the Year, and, alongside Mr Crookall’s Lifetime Achievement Award, there was additional delight for Ramsey Crookall as the independent company was shortlisted alongside larger UK and offshore firms in three Award categories.
“It is a credit to our dedicated staff that we were shortlisted in the Company Awards for the ‘Best Advisory’ category, the ‘Best Discretionary Service’ category and we were third in the ‘Best Execution Dealing Service’ category,’ Mr Crookall said. “To be nominated among all the larger firms must help our reputation for personal service. We keep a discreet low profile and provide a bespoke personal service which clients really appreciate.”
Stephen Pinner, Managing Director of Awards organiser Goodacre UK, said Mr Crookall had been an outstanding Lifetime Achievement recipient.
“The Lifetime Achievement Awards is presented to individuals within the Financial Services Industry who have made a significant worthwhile and sustained contribution,” he explained. “Previous winners include John Jenkins OBE, Angela Knight CBE, Keith Loudon, Brian Winterflood MBE and John Hemming MP.”
“Neal Crookall’s Award was based on his long commitment to Stockbroking from an offshore base, where his values and those of his family have been seen to attract and sustain a loyal client base. His company has built up a very good reputation which, in the judges’ view, is well deserved. The Award was presented by Brian Winterflood MBE, who said that the judges were quite right to recognise the contribution made by a stockbroker outside of the ‘square mile’ who has done much to serve his community and maintain strong links with London.”
Mr Crookall concluded: “I have witnessed many changes over the years, but I was particularly pleased that the introduction to the Award was given by an old colleague of mine, Brian Winterflood, as we had both worked together on the floor of the old Stock Exchange in the early 1960s. Before ‘big bang’, it was a much more personal relationship with the market, with business conducted over the ‘phone. Nowadays, it’s all computer screens and deals completed in seconds.”
“The Stock Exchange has always been in the forefront of business technology and its members have had to adapt to changes from manual ledgers, electronic pricing, computerisation, electronic trading and now the global impact of the internet.”
Alongside the traditional bespoke personal service given to clients, Ramsey Crookall & Co. has continuously developed its digital services and is set to unveil a series of technology-driven enhancements in 2013.
Photo - (from left to right) Chairman of Ramsey Crookall & Co. Neal Crookall, the Rt. Hon. Lord Norman Lamont and Brian Winterflood MBE
