Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Chris Bliss, Rawlinson & Hunter
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Chris Bliss, Consultant at Rawlinson & Hunter.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
I am now acting as a Consultant at Rawlinson & Hunter LLP looking after 5/6 clients as an executive trustee/family advisor. I also act as a trustee of several charities. I retired as a partner of the firm in September 2020.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are the same. I am generally in the office 3 or 4 days a week (having started with a session in the gym) dealing with client matters, liaising with R&H partners and staff on client issues. I will also attend regular investment review meetings, client and trust meetings on both an ad hoc and regular basis.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions.
Over my many years of practice I have had many interesting client instructions, many now lost in the mists of time! However a few highlights:-
- Assisting in the set up of a new F1 team including ownership structuring and then advising on the sale of the team some years later.
- Creation of long term dynastic structures both here in the UK and overseas for high profile clients.
- Advising on and moving clients and families around the world, including to and from the UK.
- Advising on creation of charities both in the UK and overseas, the most recent being a Swiss registered charity.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
Challenges facing clients, protecting wealth, succession planning and provision for care (health and other) in old age. Assisting with strategic and structuring advice. Acting as a sounding board and listening as a trusted advisor.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
The length of my career at R&H (39 years) and my final nine years as Senior Partner. Coupled with this, the fact I am still advising clients I have known and worked with for over 35 years as their trusted advisor.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Acting as a role model for the organisation, being inspirational, however one chooses to do that. Being available and listening to the concerns of staff and clients. Knowing one’s limitations, the art of delegation. Never asking someone to do something you would not do yourself or at least that you have done in the past.
Who do you most admire and why?
Two of my long-standing clients who came from nowhere and reached the top of their respective professions. For their dedication, single mindedness and the ability to think laterally.
Within R&H my former senior partners who saw something in me and encouraged me to follow in their footsteps.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
For work I was in New York recently for investment meetings.
For pleasure Namibia and Botswana, a much delayed retirement trip. I had previously worked in Zimbabwe and Namibia was the last country in southern Africa I had not visited. It more than lived up to expectations.
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
In my fantasy world a retired MotoGP rider, more seriously working in Sports management.
How do you relax after a long day?
Relaxing over dinner with my long suffering partner, but if not with her watching sport or listening to music and reading.
You can view Chris’s profile on the Leaders List here.
Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Jayesh Jethwa, Quastels
This week's 60-second piece is dedicated to Jayesh Jethwa, Partner at Quastels.
Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Vikash Gupta, VAR Capital
This week's 60-second piece is dedicated to Vikash Gupta, CEO of VAR Capital.