Our People

Our services are delivered by skilled investment professionals and we continue to grow our business through the reputation of our people.

Our investment managers, pensions and financial planners, and tax and legal specialists are listed below as well as our Board and Executive team. Alternatively, please call 020 7399 0000 to arrange to speak to one of our team.

Fiona Gillespie

Head of charities, Scotland

Fiona Gillespie

Head of charities, Scotland

Edinburgh

Fiona joined Rathbones in October 2019 following her previous role as a senior investment manager at Anderson Strathern Asset Management. Previous to that, Fiona spent 24 years at Edinburgh Fund Managers and then Aberdeen Asset Management following their acquisition, where she had principal responsibility for managing multi asset mandates for Charity clients.

Fiona is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals, and Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.

She sits as a Trustee of Medical Research Scotland, Trustee of the Stafford Trust and Treasurer/Trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Fiona is also a member of the Future Asset Steering Committee. Until recently, Fiona was also non-executive director of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) for over 6 years, stepping down in June of 2020.

Fiona joined Rathbones in October 2019 following her previous role as a senior investment manager at Anderson Strathern Asset Management. Previous to that, Fiona spent 24 years at Edinburgh Fund Managers and then Aberdeen Asset Management following their acquisition, where she had principal responsibility for managing multi asset mandates for Charity clients.

Fiona is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals, and Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.

She sits as a Trustee of Medical Research Scotland, Trustee of the Stafford Trust and Treasurer/Trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Fiona is also a member of the Future Asset Steering Committee. Until recently, Fiona was also non-executive director of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) for over 6 years, stepping down in June of 2020.

Natalie Yapp

Head of business development, Charities

Natalie Yapp

Head of business development, Charities

London

Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations. 

Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader. 

Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations. 

Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader. 

Melanie Wotherspoon

Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development

Melanie Wotherspoon

Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development

London

Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Jake Wellesley-Smith

Client development director - North

Jake Wellesley-Smith

Client development director - North

Kendal

Jake joined Rathbones in 2020.  He spearheads the client development activities across the North of England and the Midlands, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Jake started his career in finance at Lombard Street Research before moving into the private client investment world with Border Asset Management in Cumbria.  He joined Rathbones after 7 years working for Aberdeen Standard Capital (formerly Standard Life Wealth) following the acquisition of Newton Investment Management's private client arm in 2013.  

Jake is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Jake joined Rathbones in 2020.  He spearheads the client development activities across the North of England and the Midlands, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Jake started his career in finance at Lombard Street Research before moving into the private client investment world with Border Asset Management in Cumbria.  He joined Rathbones after 7 years working for Aberdeen Standard Capital (formerly Standard Life Wealth) following the acquisition of Newton Investment Management's private client arm in 2013.  

Jake is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Matthew Carr

Client development director - South

Matthew Carr

Client development director - South

Winchester

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2021 to spearhead the client development activities across the South and South West of England. He has responsibility for delivering the wide range of Rathbones services to our clients and is leading the development and management of intermediary relationships across the region.

Matthew started his career in the British Army, before joining Reuters Ltd in London and then Asia. Whilst in Asia, Matthew moved into banking, working for Credit Agricole and subsequently BNP Paribas Equities and Derivatives, returning to London with BNPP. He went on to build an ETF business at Rabobank, before joining Credit Suisse Private Banking in London, where he led the business development team. 

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2021 to spearhead the client development activities across the South and South West of England. He has responsibility for delivering the wide range of Rathbones services to our clients and is leading the development and management of intermediary relationships across the region.

Matthew started his career in the British Army, before joining Reuters Ltd in London and then Asia. Whilst in Asia, Matthew moved into banking, working for Credit Agricole and subsequently BNP Paribas Equities and Derivatives, returning to London with BNPP. He went on to build an ETF business at Rabobank, before joining Credit Suisse Private Banking in London, where he led the business development team. 

Oliver Craven

Head of strategic partnership team - Client development director, London/Cambridge

Oliver Craven

Head of strategic partnership team - Client development director, London/Cambridge

London

Oliver joined the Private Office of Rathbones in 2019 as a client director. His main priority is to help families, entrepreneurs, senior corporate executives and professionals manage all aspects of their wealth.

Oliver now additionally heads the Strategic Partnership Team which has a focus on delivering the services of Rathbones to the clients of Investec.

Prior to joining Rathbones, Oliver was a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs where his responsibility was both to bring in new business and to manage the investments of UHNW clients.

Oliver started his career in the Royal Navy and after numerous operational deployments, he had the privilege of being the first Navigating Officer of the Navy’s newest Destroyer, HMS Defender.

Oliver joined the Private Office of Rathbones in 2019 as a client director. His main priority is to help families, entrepreneurs, senior corporate executives and professionals manage all aspects of their wealth.

Oliver now additionally heads the Strategic Partnership Team which has a focus on delivering the services of Rathbones to the clients of Investec.

Prior to joining Rathbones, Oliver was a private wealth advisor at Goldman Sachs where his responsibility was both to bring in new business and to manage the investments of UHNW clients.

Oliver started his career in the Royal Navy and after numerous operational deployments, he had the privilege of being the first Navigating Officer of the Navy’s newest Destroyer, HMS Defender.

Matthew Wakefield

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

Matthew Wakefield

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

London

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2014, having previously worked closely with Rathbones for a number of years as a partner, with Julian Whately, of Rooper and Whately solicitors. Matthew qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and has extensive experience of advising clients in relation to their Wills, probates, powers of attorney and trusts. Matthew also advises clients, including a number of landed estates, on succession planning and the proper mitigation of inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

Where appropriate, Matthew has taken on fiduciary roles for clients and their families – whether as an executor, attorney or trustee – and aims to carry out these roles responsibly and with sensitivity to the needs of the client’s circumstances, as required.

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2014, having previously worked closely with Rathbones for a number of years as a partner, with Julian Whately, of Rooper and Whately solicitors. Matthew qualified as a solicitor in 1999 and has extensive experience of advising clients in relation to their Wills, probates, powers of attorney and trusts. Matthew also advises clients, including a number of landed estates, on succession planning and the proper mitigation of inheritance tax and capital gains tax.

Where appropriate, Matthew has taken on fiduciary roles for clients and their families – whether as an executor, attorney or trustee – and aims to carry out these roles responsibly and with sensitivity to the needs of the client’s circumstances, as required.

Christopher Hordern

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

Christopher Hordern

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

London

Christopher is a solicitor specialising in agricultural and residential property. He is also a qualified Chartered Surveyor and has extensive practical experience of the sale, purchase and management issues arising out of the ownership of residential property and landed estates for both private and institutional landowners. Prior to joining Rathbones, Christopher was a partner in Thrings solicitors and at Lee & Pembertons.

In addition to sales and purchases, Christopher also deals with secured lending, leases, easements, covenants, sporting rights, first registrations of title and other associated matters for both the rural and residential markets. In particular he deals with complex sales and purchases involving overage provisions, options, conditional contracts and exchanges of land.

Christopher is a solicitor specialising in agricultural and residential property. He is also a qualified Chartered Surveyor and has extensive practical experience of the sale, purchase and management issues arising out of the ownership of residential property and landed estates for both private and institutional landowners. Prior to joining Rathbones, Christopher was a partner in Thrings solicitors and at Lee & Pembertons.

In addition to sales and purchases, Christopher also deals with secured lending, leases, easements, covenants, sporting rights, first registrations of title and other associated matters for both the rural and residential markets. In particular he deals with complex sales and purchases involving overage provisions, options, conditional contracts and exchanges of land.

Alexandra Pike

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

Alexandra Pike

Solicitor and Director of Rathbones Legal Services Limited

London

Alexandra joined Rathbones in 2017, having previously been a senior associate in the Private Client team at Wedlake Bell LLP. Alexandra qualified as a solicitor in 2007, having trained at Mills & Reeve LLP.

Alexandra specialises in UK and offshore tax and trusts and is particularly experienced in: advising on and implementing tax-efficient strategies for both UK and non-UK domiciliaries; advising in relation to onshore and offshore trusts; trust drafting; succession planning including drafting complex wills; administering estates (including cross-border estates); and capacity issues / OPG applications.

She has experience of advising entrepreneurial clients, trustees and landed estates.   

Alexandra is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Alexandra joined Rathbones in 2017, having previously been a senior associate in the Private Client team at Wedlake Bell LLP. Alexandra qualified as a solicitor in 2007, having trained at Mills & Reeve LLP.

Alexandra specialises in UK and offshore tax and trusts and is particularly experienced in: advising on and implementing tax-efficient strategies for both UK and non-UK domiciliaries; advising in relation to onshore and offshore trusts; trust drafting; succession planning including drafting complex wills; administering estates (including cross-border estates); and capacity issues / OPG applications.

She has experience of advising entrepreneurial clients, trustees and landed estates.   

Alexandra is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.