Citywealth 20th Anniversary at London Zoo – The Zoo-Do
Citywealth’s “Zoo-do” marks twenty years of independent coverage of the global private wealth community, from its first awards at London Zoo in 2005 to a modern digital hub. The brand now brings together leaders in wealth management, law, trusts and accountancy through curated news, the Citywealth Leaders List and networking clubs that connect the next generation with established experts.
A word from Karen Jones, the founder of Citywealth.
“Thank you so much for supporting Citywealth over our two decades and for helping us celebrate 20 years at our party at London Zoo where our first awards event was held. Now infamously called the Zoo-Do, we very much enjoyed supping some champagne whilst chatting to you all and putting the world to rights. See the Citywealth story below and pictures on the link.”
Click here to see the pictures of the Citywealth 20th Anniversary party
Karen Jones, Founder, Citywealth with Joshua Rubenstein, Katten Muchin Rosenman, New York
The Zoo-do: Twenty Years Later
The beginnings through to now. The Citywealth story
After a year’s career break, I set up a laptop, a few credit cards, and had an idea: the private wealth world had influence, intellect, and style, but no single place that reflected its full picture. There were technical publications and trade magazines, but nothing that mixed updates from different jurisdictions with features on the people shaping the industry. Almost like a church newsletter, I used to say, something regular, informed, and lively enough to make people actually read it.
2005: When BlackBerrys Buzzed and the Private Wealth Scene Took Shape
It was 2005. PDFs were fashionable, faxes still hummed offshore, and BlackBerrys were as hot as AI is now. The industry had its own rhythm — a blend of finance, art, philanthropy, and a busy social calendar that combined substance with style. Private jets parked at art fairs, yachts appeared at regattas, and private banks sponsored orchestras and galleries. It was a world where expertise met culture, and it deserved a publication that understood both.
Early Mentors and the Generosity That Built Citywealth
In those early days, a kind fellow called Andrew Young, then at law firm Lawrence Graham, generously shared contacts and guidance that helped build a foundation. He also introduced me to Joshua Rubenstein at Katten, who became a client, mentor, and what we still call our guardian angel. Andrew sadly passed away a few years ago, but his spirit of fun and helpfulness will always be remembered. Without that early support, Citywealth might never have made it through the first few years.
From the Reptile House to Recognition: The Birth of the Zoo-do
The first awards were held at London Zoo, partly for fun, partly to stand out. It was an unusual choice in a formal industry, but it worked. The lawyers joked that we’d put them in the reptile unit, which sort of made everyone remember us, and it’s still repeated twenty years later. The event became affectionately known as the Zoo-do, and from there the Citywealth name began to travel.
Connecting Global Private Wealth Leaders: From the Leaders List to Trusted Wealth Management Insights
From those beginnings came the Leaders List directory, the awards, and the forums, connecting professionals from London and New York to the Channel Islands and Singapore. Two decades later, the coverage has grown to include wealth management, next generation leadership, trusts, and accountancy, but the aim remains the same: to inform, connect, and bring a touch of polish to the serious business of private wealth.
Building the Foundations: The Zoo-do, the Clubs, and a Changing Industry
The first major initiative was the Zoo-do, an event created to celebrate excellence in private wealth and to give the sector its moment in the spotlight.
In the mid-2000s, corporate work, mergers, acquisitions, and institutional finance, tended to dominate the industry agenda. Private client and wealth management were seen as a little rarified, a niche world for those advising families rather than corporations. But it was also where some of the most complex, long-term, and trusted relationships in finance were taking place. The Zoo-do was designed to highlight that, to show that private client work had its own sophistication, its own expertise, and deserved recognition in its own right.
From Rejection to Recognition: The Moment Private Banks Began to Listen
At first, getting into the private banks wasn’t easy. They were polite but disinterested. The idea of an awards event for advisers didn’t quite register. Then Andrew Young, then at Lawrence Graham, stepped in and forced the door open. He brought contacts, credibility, and encouragement, and with his help, momentum built.
Empowering the Next Generation of Wealth Managers: The Birth of The Tomorrow Club
As someone with ten years at News International, I’d learned that every industry needs visibility and connection to thrive. It struck me that the next generation of wealth managers, lawyers, and trustees would need those same tools, so I launched The Citywealth Tomorrow Club.
It started in my Mayfair apartment: a few bottles of champagne, a few emails, and about a hundred people squeezed into one room. We had to move the furniture out, but the energy was unmistakable. It gave younger professionals a place to meet, talk, and find their footing in an industry that can feel impenetrable from the outside.
Evolving the Network: How The Tomorrow Club Inspired The WP Club for Wealth Professionals
The Tomorrow Club quickly developed into a structured programme with speed networking and a mentor every three months, funded by company memberships. Many of those first attendees are now senior partners, directors, and trustees — and still talk fondly about those early nights.
On the back of that success came The WP Club, Wealth Professionals, a progression for those moving to the next level. The two clubs now have over 40 corporate members. The WP Club is open to all ages, with one golden rule: members must be actively managing money or advising clients in law, accountancy, or trusteeship.
Both clubs still run exactly as they began: two hours, no long speeches, just introductions, conversations, and connections. A private client lawyer recently said they’re “unbelievable at helping the youngsters, they really enjoy them.” That’s the legacy, a space where professionals still meet, learn, and form relationships that last decades.
The Citywealth Leaders List: From Black Book to Digital Benchmark
A Little Black Book That Shaped the Industry: The Story of the Citywealth Leaders List
Around the same time as the first Zoo-do, another idea took shape, the Citywealth Leaders List. It began as a little black book of global contacts, published in print, cataloguing the top lawyers, trustees, accountants, private banker and investment managers.
The Digital Evolution of the Citywealth Leaders List: Trusted, Verified, and Connected
It was, to put it mildly, a hell of a lot of work. Producing it meant full-time third-party teams compiling data, checking credentials, and managing endless proofs. It was a labour of love, created before websites were reliable and long before digital directories became standard.
In 2007, internet connectivity was still patchy in many financial centres, so print was the only practical option. The mailing alone was eye-watering, heavy books, global postage, and customs paperwork, but the directory quickly became a success. Firms put it on their reception desks, handed it to new hires, and proudly added the Citywealth Leaders List logo to their email signatures and websites. It became a mark of professional credibility, and a conversation starter.
Over time, as technology improved, the Leaders List migrated online, still curated, still verified, but now easier to update and search. The principles, however, never changed: quality, credibility, and accountability.
Today, the Leaders List sits at the heart of the Citywealth website, recently relaunched after a major tech upgrade that merged the news platform and directory into one seamless system. Each professional now has a profile page featuring their biography, client reviews, and any Citywealth articles or news features they’ve appeared in, all cross-linked and searchable.
Every review and listing is monitored by Citywealth; nothing goes live without editorial authorisation. That oversight keeps the platform trusted and professional, the same standards that made the original print edition indispensable.
What began as a printed black book on office shelves has become a living, digital reference used by firms and clients around the world, proof that the old principles of quality journalism and careful curation still matter, even in an algorithmic age.
Citywealth Today: Products, Reach & Independence
Citywealth Today: Independent Wealth Management News and Industry Insights
Citywealth operates today as a fully independent media and networking brand. We post daily curated industry releases on citywealthmag.com and across LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram, each one selected and approved by the Citywealth editorial team. We do not accept external submissions for our news pages; editorial independence has been central to the brand’s credibility since the beginning.
The Citywealth Weekly, published every Wednesday, features a main story written in-house by our editorial team. Alongside it, industry experts are invited to reply to questions and share their perspectives on topical subjects. Each edition includes a main feature, quick insights, 60-second interviews and commentary on wealth management, trusts, accountancy and industry trends. The newsletter now reaches over 19,000 subscribers and has been recognised with an industry award for excellence in publishing and communication.
Wider Interests
Karen’s interests extend beyond publishing into art history, technology, and philanthropy. She studies art history each year at the Courtauld Summer School and supports multiple charities through Citywealth’s events programme. Citywealth has been delighted to help Magic Breakfast and Maggie’s through their events programmes. She is also a strong advocate for women, encouraging visibility, leadership, and connection across the wealth management and professional services community.
Key Takeaways
- Citywealth celebrated its 20th Anniversary at the Zoo-do event in London Zoo, fostering connection and recognition in the private wealth industry.
- The foundation of Citywealth began with a vision to provide a lively publication for the private wealth sector, combining finance and culture.
- The Leaders List evolved from a printed directory to a digital benchmark, aiding professionals globally in the wealth management space.
- Citywealth maintains its independence and credibility by curating news and insights without external submissions, reaching over 19,000 newsletter subscribers.
- Karen Jones advocates for women in wealth management, promoting visibility and leadership while supporting charitable causes.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Click here to see the pictures of the Citywealth 20th Anniversary party
Click here to read more about Karen Jones and the team at Citywealth
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