<strong>By: Stonehage Fleming</strong>

<img class="alignleft wp-image-140183 size-medium" src="https://www.cover.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SF_John-Connolly_Colour-244x300.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="300" />Stonehage Fleming (“Stonehage Fleming” or “the Group”), the leading independently owned international Family Office, has announced the appointment of <strong>John Connolly as Chairman of the Board.</strong>

John brings extensive corporate and professional services experience to Stonehage Fleming, having held several significant chairmanships during a career that includes 45 years at accountancy and business services firm Deloitte, where he was ultimately made Senior Partner and Global Chairman. He currently chairs the FTSE 100 company G4S, and was chairman of Amec Foster Wheeler, also a FTSE 100, before it merged with Wood Group. He is also Executive Chairman of Cogital Group. John was Chairman of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity until earlier this year and is a Council Member of the CBI.

The appointment of John to Chairman of the Board is effective as of 1 October 2019. He succeeds Charles Erasmus, who has served on the Board of Stonehage, and then as Chairman of Stonehage and Stonehage Fleming, for the past two decades.

<strong>Chris Merry, Group CEO, Stonehage Fleming, said:</strong> “John’s distinguished track record in both the professional services and corporate world makes him the ideal Chairman for Stonehage Fleming. His extensive experience and strategic vision will contribute enormously to shaping the future growth of the firm.”

<strong>Giuseppe Ciucci, Managing Partner and Deputy Chairman of Stonehage Fleming, paid tribute to outgoing Chairman, Charles Erasmus.</strong> “Over the last 20 years, Charles has overseen the evolution of our business from a niche trust and fiduciary company, to the full service, broadly diversified international family advisory business we are so proud of today. We are very grateful to him.”

<strong>Following his appointment as Chairman of Stonehage Fleming, John Connolly said: </strong>“I have been most impressed by Stonehage Fleming’s excellent reputation, its client-centric approach and the quality and ambition of its people. It’s an exciting time to be taking on this role and I am looking forward to working with a business that has such great potential for further growth, and with a team that has redefined the modern Family Office.”