Who we are
Business to business platform provider
Winterflood Business Services (WBS) is a business to business (B2B) platform provider whose award-winning service has seen us grow to over £12bn AUA with an expanding client list. Our highly skilled and experienced team are dedicated to providing the standards our clients rightly demand.
Our aim is to help solve client problems and ease their regulatory and administrative burden with secure, integrated and bespoke end-to-end solutions to achieve their investment objectives. Execution quality and excellent service is at the core of our business, all set out in our service level agreements for full transparency.
The WBS service is provided through our EOS platform, which is a proprietary system developed by our in-house development team. EOS is built using the latest technologies and is based on micro-service architecture, making the platform easy to scale and deploy new functionality. We are also market innovators, capable of recognising unfilled needs and developing products to suit our customers’ needs and changing regulatory requirements.
We became a separate division of Winterflood Securities in 2010, in response to demand from clients who were looking for ‘whole of market’ access and ‘custody services’. Our strategy remains to continue to invest in people, process and technology to allow us to scale for the growth in our existing business, as well as taking on new clients.
WBS Management Committee
Alex Kerry
Director & Head of Winterflood Business Services
Areas of expertise
- Strategic business leadership
- Innovation
- Commercial management
- In-depth industry knowledge across Wealth Management, Asset Management, Custody and Digital
As Head of WBS, Alex is responsible for the strategic direction of the business as well as the long-term vision, growth and profitability of the division. He was a co-founder of WBS, joining in 2010 and he has been instrumental to WBS’ success. He has over 20 years’ experience in financial services working with organisations including Barclays Private Bank, Barclays Wealth, Citigroup and Motorola Corporate Finance across multiple jurisdictions such as North America, Europe, Channel Islands and the UK. Alex was appointed to the Board of Winterflood Securities Ltd in 2019.
“My vision for WBS is for us to remain relentlessly client focussed and continue to drive innovation across the entire financial services eco-system by supporting our existing and future clients in their quest to change the shape of the industry as we know it”
Thomas Lowe
Head of Strategy and Product
Areas of expertise
- Digital wealth management
- Platform design and integration
- Product strategy
As Head of Strategy and Customer at WBS, Thomas is responsible for the proprietary dealing and custody platform, EOS, and works closely with the industry to develop the best solutions and integrations for companies.
He has extensive experience in the design and solution side of financial services, particularly in digital wealth management, and has worked with some of the largest investment companies in the UK. He has worked in various roles since joining the WBS team in 2013, specialising in system integrations, platform technology and products. He has worked on many large product launches and client migrations across the wealth management, digital advice, share plan and platform space.
“My vision is for WBS to be a vital part of the ever-changing technology underpinning Financial Services, as a new generation is reshaping the investing landscape. Products like fractional ETF trading are integral to that journey.”
Hannah Buffery
Head of Delivery
Areas of expertise
- Large-scale platform enhancements
- Change Management
- Solution Design
As Head of Delivery, Hannah is responsible for the delivery of new financial products and solutions for our clients. Covering a wide breadth of projects from new technology integrations in the form of cloud, ensuring our clients are leading the way with their own retail products such as JISA and fractional trading. Working across the WBS client basis to ensure WBS remains at the forefront of the platform industry and provides the best solutions for a wide range of clients/models. Hannah has extensive experience in operational and dealing solutions across platforms, previously working at HSBC, Macquarie starting her career at Computershare. Hannah joined WBS at the start of its journey working in various roles since joining the WBS team back in 2011, really specialising in operational and dealing enhancements, growth and solutions. Supporting migrations of newly onboarded clients ensuring their experience of WBS and their growth journey is fully integrated with WBS.
Sam Blackburn
Head of Retail
Areas of expertise
- Client engagement
- Financial services expertise & deep industry knowledge
- Relationship development
As the Head of Retail, Sam is responsible for maintaining, enhancing and evolving the WBS Retail proposition. Key to this is ensuring WBS Retail products and services continue to meet our clients’ needs, deliver good outcomes and help facilitate their growth. This is delivered through positive client engagement and a solution-based approach.
Sam has broad expertise across the Financial Services working with some of the largest providers in the retail stockbroking, platform and asset management industries. With experience in propositional development, brokerage, senior relationship management and business development, he brings a breadth of knowledge and experience with him.
Sam is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and has recently led the WBS implementation of the FCA’s Consumer Duty regulation.
“I’m passionate about our clients; understanding them and their needs and working in partnership to deliver the best possible customer outcomes.”
James Wharton
Head of Custody Operations
Areas of expertise
- Investment operations
- Client money & assets (CASS)
- Process optimisation
As Head of Custody Operations at WBS, James is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of WBS and CASS Oversight for Winterflood Securities as a whole. He has over 10 years’ experience within operational oversight and management and has been responsible for CASS across both retail and institutional sectors.
He plays a key role in the growth of the WBS technology by ensuring that innovation is complimented with robust usability across the platform and ensures that we future proof our build for all prevailing regulation and operational advancements.
"I’m very proud of how we have leveraged WBS’ cutting edge platform technology to optimise our processes and controls in operations. Ensuring staff have the best tools at their disposal has enabled them to focus on putting the client at the heart of everything they do”
Darren Hepworth
Head of Software Engineering
Areas of expertise
- Financial services expertise and deep industry knowledge
- Strategic relationships and client partner management
- Business transformation & growth
As Head of Service & Delivery at WBS, Darren is responsible for establishing and growing our client and strategic relationships and overseeing change to the proprietary dealing and custody platform. As part of the WBS Management Committee, he also ensures WBS delivers against its strategy and financial budget. His wide industry experience and broad network compliment the senior team.
He is an accomplished and versatile executive with 30 years’ experience in financial services with a focus on digital and direct business models. He has global experience working with institutions across the UK, continental Europe and North America. He is a strategic and innovative thinker with a proven track record of delivering strong, profitable growth through deep focus on customer experience and outcomes. Darren is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.
“I believe passionately in growing wealth through investing. As such I’m committed to helping our customers deliver the best possible service and proposition in order to help achieve this.”
Philip Smith
Head of WBS Corporate and Trustee Dealing
- Financial Services
- Business Strategy
- Relationship Management
- Stockbroking & Execution
Philip has 30 plus years’ experience in the City, primarily working in the banking sector, working with organisations including Numis Securities, Hoare Govett, NatWest Stockbrokers and UBS. Phil’s role at Winterflood Business Solutions is to lead a new division – Corporate and Trustee Dealing, a bespoke business that offers a high touch client experience across the corporate & employee incentive space.
His ambition is to identify and deliver innovation across his sector, offering an agile business approach to the growing and ever-changing client requirements.
WBS Leadership Team
Reece Baker
Head of Institution Relationship Management
Areas of expertise
- Relationship management and Client engagement
- Broad market knowledge
- Commercial models
As the Head of Institutional Client Relationship Management, Reece is responsible for maintaining, building and deepening relationships between WBS and its Institutional clients. Key to this is ensuring WBS continues to be aligned with specific and unique client needs and strategies, in an ever changing landscape.
The Relationship Management team aim to achieve this this through proactive and structured client engagement and a solution-based approach, acting as the voice of the client across the wider business.
Reece has broad expertise across Financial Services, having previously worked with some of the largest platforms in the industry at both retail and institutional levels.
Having joined WBS in 2017 and with Over 12 years financial services experience across operations, propositional development and senior relationship management, he brings a breadth of knowledge and experience with him.
“Making sure I understand our clients’ goals and objectives is central to my role. I’m passionate about working closely with our clients to ensure WBS products and services are meeting their needs and supporting their growth”
Yewande Ojo
Head of Client Implementations and Change
Areas of expertise
- Client onboarding
- Governance and controls management
- Programme and project management
Yewande is responsible for client onboarding, business change and the controls and governance framework at WBS. She manages new clients from the sales pipeline to a finished product working closely with the Business Development and Product teams to scope out the delivery of new offerings for WBS’ ever growing client base. Yewande is also responsible for the oversight of the delivery of Operational Resilience initiatives, ensuring that we continue to build on our resilience framework at WBS.
Yewande has worked in various roles since joining the firm in 2014, specialising in platform integration, client migrations and regulatory and operational change initiatives. Prior to joining WBS, she worked at Octopus Investments as a Business Analyst.
Yewande is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Edward Dickson
Head of Dealing
Areas of expertise
- Best execution
- Automated trading
- ETF and investment trust trading
As Head of Dealing, Edward ensures the flow of WBS orders are executed in line with best execution obligations, and that the WBS order routing systems are achieving the highest rates of STP (straight through processing).
Edward's team are also responsible for handling orders with care and using their expertise to deliver excellence in execution.
Edward has had years of experience on high-touch execution desks at leading wealth managers including Charles Stanley and Quilter & Co. This experience was invaluable as Edward was instrumental in helping develop major system enhancements for Mifid II. He continues to work with the business to develop the trading capabilities and relationships of the trading desk. Edward’s passion for ETFs has played a crucial role in building our retail propositions across WBS and he runs our Fractional ETF trading product.
“I’m very proud of the work we have done at WBS to ensure robust best execution governance. I want to educate the wider market on the importance of best execution for the expanding investor universe in the UK.”
Kerry Bettison
Head of Compliance, WBS
Areas of expertise
- Wealth management
- Regulatory compliance
As Head of Compliance at WBS, Kerry is responsible for providing Compliance Advisory services and management of the Winterflood Compliance Risk Assessment & Monitoring Programme. She joined WBS in February 2019. Kerry has over 15 years’ experience working in compliance within the wealth management and capital markets industry. Prior to this she worked for RBC for over 8 years, as Assistant Head of the RBC Europe Monitoring team covering the capital markets, wealth management, UK asset management and investor & treasury platforms. She also spent 6 years working at Brewin Dolphin Limited, a wealth management firm, as Compliance Regional Manager for the UK South and Midlands regions.
“The UK regulatory environment is continually evolving. My aim is to work collaboratively with the WBS management team, providing expert advice and guidance, to enable the firm to understand, identify and mitigate the regulatory risks that may impact the WBS business model.”
Ronnie Perkins
Head of Client Operations
Areas of expertise
- Domestic and UK Settlement
- Platform Operations
- Fund Administration
Ronnie is a client focused operations professional with 18 years experience in the industry covering a number of functions and asset classes. He is responsible for owning the delivery of operations within a designated control framework and within risk appetite, ensuring a robust structure with efficient, stable, and scalable processes. Governance committee member, skilled in leadership, stakeholder management, customer service and strategic planning.
Lorraine Ineson
Client Delivery Lead
Areas of expertise
- Client Technology Delivery
- Production System Co-ordination
- Technology Platforms Expertise
As Client Delivery Lead, Lorraine is responsible for ensuring that WBS platform technology meets the growing needs of our clients.
With over 10 years experience in large scale Financial and Retail solutions, she is committed to ensuring the robust and cutting edge technology that underpins the success of WBS.
Lorraine's team work closely with the business operations and product teams to oversee daily production system functions, and also to provide strategic technology delivery for client requirements.
"In WBS, technology plays a crucial role in the service we provide to our clients. I am passionate about our goal to ensure that the WBS platform is well placed to meet the demands of the future."
Tom Giles
Deputy Head of WBS Corporate and Trustee Dealing
- Financial Services
- Business Strategy & Growth
- Relationship Management
- Stockbroking & Execution
As Deputy Head of the WBS Corporate Dealing business, Tom’s responsibility is to co-own and drive the strategic development, direction and growth of this business.
Tom has more than 18 years’ experience in the Financial Services Industry with expertise in stockbroking and share plans. Tom has worked at MM&K, Killik and Co, Equiniti and Link Group with extensive experience in UK and overseas markets across technology, business development, commercials and client relationship.
“The infrastructure, technology and people at WBS made the opportunity to join this business to launch the Corporate Dealing business a very easy decision. We will be able to offer our clients a truly exceptional level of service whilst using market leading technology and platforms to drive innovation and growth in this sector.”
Winterflood Securities has been servicing its clients' needs for more than 30 years, committed to providing liquidity and flexible execution services to institutional investors, retail brokers and asset managers. Winterflood is ranked number 1 in the UK Equity Market by volume traded.* offering access to 15,000 tradable instruments.
In addition to the WBS business, Winterflood also offer the following:
- Execution services: equities, fixed income, investment trusts, exchange traded products, funds, structured products, Smart Order Routing and algorithmic trading.
- Investment trusts: brokerage & research.
*Source: LSE Report, CY 2018, Principal Business with agent member firms.
Winterflood Securities is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Close Brothers Group plc.
Close Brothers is a leading UK merchant banking group providing lending, deposit taking, wealth management services, and securities trading. The group employs around 3,300 people, principally in the UK. Close Brothers Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 250.
Close Brothers celebrated its 140-year anniversary in 2018 and continues to invest its time, energy and money in looking towards the future.
Close Brothers call it Modern Merchant Banking.
Award winning innovator in aggregation and automation
WBS is recognised as a leading innovator in aggregation and automation. We were awarded the 'Best Strategic Platform Partner' award at the Platform Awards 2017 for our EOS institutional platform and technology advancement. In 2018, WBS was awarded the 'Leading Innovation' award for the launch of the WBS fractional ETF trading service.
