Citywealth Leaders List, 60 second interview – Ian Heap, Bordier & Cie (UK)
This week’s 60 seconds Citywealth Leaders List interview is dedicated to Ian Heap, Chief Executive Officer of Bordier & Cie (UK).
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
As both the CEO of Bordier UK and a private client Investment Director, I never quite know what my diary will look like from one week to the next; however, they do say variety is the spice of life!
What does a typical day look like for you?
My commute to and from our offices in St James’s consumes more than three hours a day, which gives me plenty of time to catch up on work tasks in the morning and the most recent Netflix/Prime series in the evening. A typical office day usually consists of working with our clients and their advisers, increasingly by Zoom and Teams, interspersed with team meetings to ensure everyone has what they need to succeed. My days don’t always play out to plan, so it’s important to remain adaptable.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
Aside from the conversations our wealth planners have been having with clients around the recent UK Budget, I had one client ask for guidance as to how they should relocate to Italy to “escape the dreariness of the UK!” The client was keen to keep Bordier UK at the heart of the investment management process, which was only possible due to our group custody capabilities and global connections. I am pleased to say that the client continues to work with us from Tuscany, where he enjoys his newfound hobby of olive oil pressing!
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
In today’s data obsessed world, we often hear of investors struggling to understand simple facts as to the way in which their assets are being managed, the risks they are exposed to, and the true cost they pay for the service. At Bordier UK, we pride ourselves in cutting through complexity, providing a highly personalised and transparent service, meaning many longstanding clients feel more like friends. To achieve this level of service, our people remain front and centre and are the most important piece to the puzzle.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Over the course of the quarter century that I have been working in financial services, there have been many notable business achievements and numerous personal successes; however, being entrusted to lead Bordier UK at the start of 2025 must stand as my proudest achievement to date. I am only the third CEO in our firm’s 45-year history, and as part of the fifth generation Bordier & Cie, established in 1844, am cognisant of my responsibilities.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Empathy – if you don’t care, how you can you expect others to?
Who do you most admire and why?
I have admired people from all walks of life who have often worked stubbornly towards a goal, even when results were repeatedly not going their way. Having worked within many teams with varying degrees of success over the past 25 years, the people who have stood out the most have often had a diverse background, calling upon practical skills to achieve common goals. Many of the individuals I admire, both current and past, have not necessarily ‘led from the front’, but their impact on a team’s success has been seismic and too often under appreciated.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I visited our head office in Geneva for meetings in December. Unlike Davos, none of them, sadly, took place on the slopes!
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
My family run a classic car restoration business, so if I hadn’t found my way in to financial services, I would quite possibly have forgone the pinstripes for a pair of overalls and be found beneath an E-Type Jag!
How do you relax after a long day?
As a 9-5 working day is today a relic of history, I find spending quality time with family and friends is always the best way to unplug, especially as my golfing ability is at a level that adds to rather than reduces my stress levels!
If you could recommend one person in the private wealth industry, who would it be, and what would you say about them?
Jamie Berry, Bordier UK’s Executive Chairman, who in his 45th year within the private wealth sector. Remarkably, he still displays the same energy and resolve to help clients achieve their investments goals.
Bordier & Cie’s Citywealth Leaders List profile
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