60 second interview with Jacob Smed, Intertrust

Date: 21 Jan 2020

Citywealth

Citywealth spoke to Jacob Smed, managing director of Intertrust Jersey, about accomplishing tangible results, and being home in time to prepare a family meal.

Tell me about your role.

I am responsible for the Intertrust Jersey office, all 350 of my colleagues who work here and all aspects of our operation from business development, ops, HR, and risk and compliance.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I like to start the day three times a week with a run in the morning. Typically I’ll be in the office by 7.30am and spend the first 90 minutes sorting my emails, anything that’s come in overnight and prepare for the day. At 9am my meetings start, both internal and external and lunch is often over meetings or with clients. Most days are back to back but when I have a moment I try to walk around and see people. I try not to have the same fixed meetings as I like to walk in and chit chat for 5-10mins. I’ll leave around 5.30pm so I always have dinner with my family and then do a few catch ups in the evening, read a book and go to sleep.

Tell us about interesting client instructions.

I really enjoy participating in board meetings where decisions are made about tangible changes. For instance when we help with M&A transactions and two weeks later you can read about it in the press, or helping a construction company that’s constructing a building locally and you can see it being built or local retail sites developing. I find it more interesting to have a client assignment where your impact is really visible.

What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?

Clients are generally experiencing rapid change in regulatory and legal environments and we help them to be at the forefront of those changes. Recognising that they sometimes need to act fast on transactions, we accommodate that by being responsive, helpful and flexible to their unique needs.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

Moving to another country, adapting to the culture and leading people to success.

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?

Being able to motivate, being able to guide, keeping calm when trouble comes and maintaining a positive attitude to change.

Who do you most admire and why?

My mum as she had a late career. She broke the mould because she worked part time until we were 13/14 and then she started her career, becoming a successful businesswoman.

Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?

My last trip for work was Denmark and for pleasure was France.

If you weren’t in the wealth management industry, what else might you be doing?

I would still be working with people, motivation and leadership but in another industry.

How do you relax after a long day?

I cook. I come home and prepare dinner for my family with a good glass of wine.