Leaders List interview: 60 seconds with Lee Hart, Saffery Trust Cayman
This week’s 60-second piece is dedicated to Lee Hart, Director of Saffery Trust Cayman.
Tell Citywealth readers a bit about your role.
As Director of Saffery Trust Cayman, my role focuses on client relationships and family office structures for high- and ultra-high-net-worth clients. My role as a trusted adviser to our clients is to act in the best interest of the structure beneficiaries, providing an honest, objective opinion. The role of a trustee is not only to support clients in the good times but, arguably more importantly, to provide workable solutions when challenges arise.
By working in partnership with specialist advisors we help our clients and wealth structure beneficiaries to safeguard their wealth and assets and create lasting legacies.
As an independent firm, Saffery Trust has the luxury of exploring any asset class for our clients, which has seen us become specialists in non-standard assets including digital assets and cryptocurrencies, yachts, aircraft, art and antiquities. The depth and breadth of our services make for an exceptionally varied job role.
What does a typical day look like for you?
The only constant in my day is undertaking some form of exercise before 6am, which is a non-negotiable challenge I set myself. Everything else is in constant flux! I arrive at work with a to-do list, only to throw it out about 10 minutes later, but always for the best reasons. Every day is different, sometimes with planned client and/or internal meetings and document reviews and approvals. Other times the tasks of the day are completely unexpected when important matters or urgent actions arise needing the trustees (or directors) input. With offices in Guernsey, Dubai, and the Channel Islands, as well as the Cayman Islands where I am based, the multi-jurisdictional nature of our work – and associated time differences – often means acting immediately as part of cross-border collaborations. I really do learn something new every day, and it’s great to work with such a dynamic team as we continue to grow and succeed together.
Tell us about some recent, interesting client instructions/requests you have received.
Our responsibility to protect our client’s privacy is one we take extremely seriously, which can lead to a misconception that trust work is ‘boring’, when the reality is anything but! There are few roles I can think of where you can be considering theoretical steps for cryogenic storage of remains (with a view to potentially being cloned) one day and navigating the sale of a large dry bulk vessel the next. Our clients are exceptionally interesting and much of our time is spent with out-the-box thinking to support them in meeting their goals.
What challenges do your clients face and how are you helping your clients to overcome them?
From transferring cryptocurrency into traditional money or safely displaying centuries-old art collections to establishing good corporate governance or complying with regulations across multiple jurisdictions, the challenges for our clients are as diverse as the opportunities that significant wealth presents.
With a proud 170-year heritage, including more than 40 years of expertise in international jurisdictions, Saffery Trust brings unparalleled experience and insight to every aspect of supporting our clients. We often implement cross-border working between the Cayman Islands, Dubai, Guernsey, and Switzerland for the benefit of our increasingly globalised clients.
Trustees know when to engage specialist intermediaries – such as lawyers, investment advisors, or crypto custodians – when needed. One of the ways we support our clients in overcoming challenges is by connecting them with our global network of top-tier advisors, and work in partnership with them to provide tailored solutions.
What is your proudest professional achievement?
Trust work is all about relationships, both with clients and intermediaries and the team you work alongside who become friends. Having started my career in insolvency and restructuring, I made the transition into the private client sector in my mid-30s. Since then, I’ve progressed from Trust Officer through to Director, with an amazing team and clients who have supported me through both challenges and successes. The people I work alongside, and on behalf of, keep me motivated every day.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
The leaders that helped me most on my journey are the ones which lead by example, are willing to do the work with you, and who teach along the way. When combined with the right balance of confidence and people management skills, they build a successful and supportive environment where others can develop and grow in confidence while navigating client needs, risk and regulatory landscapes together.
Who do you most admire and why?
This will be the biggest cliché, but my dad. He dropped out of school at 15 and worked tirelessly to this day to build a successful insulation company. His dedication and selflessness in using as much as it needed to give me a good platform in life are the reasons I have everything I do today. If I was choosing someone high-profile, then I would pick David Beckham; he gets a lot of criticism but if you look into his growth from a footballer to a powerhouse businessman, he is a force to be reckoned with and much more intelligent than people credit him for.
Where was the last place you travelled to for work or pleasure?
I recently travelled to Miami for the annual STEP Conference, alongside Saffery Trust Director Andrew Needham. Alongside a busy schedule of connecting with other industry professionals and sharing insights on industry trends, I made some time for a bit of shopping (island life in Cayman is great, but the shopping can’t compare to Miami!).
If you weren’t in this industry, what else might you be doing?
For me, the thing I love most about the private client sector is that everything comes back to helping people. If I wasn’t in this industry, I would like to have been a doctor or a teacher for the same reason; I am highly motivated to help others achieve their goals.
How do you relax after a long day?
Usually, some form of exercise to suit the day, which may be weight training or a walk, followed by a cold (freezing!) and hot plunge cycle to wind down!
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