Meet our people

Jonathan Webster-Smith

Investment Management Director, London

I joined Brooks Macdonald in 2001 as a graduate trainee, and over time, and with support, I gained my Financial Planning Certificate (FPC) and Advanced Financial Planning Certificates (AFPC), qualifying me as Investment Manager and affiliate member of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment having completed the Diploma in 2005/6.

In 2009 I was made a director of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management and am now head of the Managed Portfolio Service team running a segregated portfolio of funds service.

 

Steve Chhoker

Management Accountant, London

I joined Brooks Macdonald as a Trainee Accountant in May 2005 having obtained an honours degree from the University of Sheffield.  As a graduate I started by learning the basics of accounting and over time Brooks Macdonald has actively supported my development and I qualified as a Certified Accountant in 2009.

As the company has grown the management information required has changed and shaped my job role and I now provide management information and accounts to the group and subsidiary boards. Due to the nature of a growing company my role is dynamic. For example, in the last year I was appointed as one of the trustees who set up The Brooks Macdonald Foundation.

Philippa Kohler

Associate Director, London

I joined Brooks Macdonald in 1998, after relocating from South Africa and was appointed Associate Director in 2005. I have 16 years experience in marketing and operations management and am AFPC qualified.

Even in 1998 few financial planning companies were recruiting people without at least one industry exam under their belts. As I had gained my qualifications and work experience in South Africa, it became apparent that I needed to re-qualify in the UK.

I joined Brooks Macdonald in June 1998 as a financial planning administrator, attracted by the company’s reputation in the industry and its study support programme. The training is excellent and management encouraged employees to be forward thinking and ambitious. With the support of management, I attained the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate (equivalent to the Diploma in Financial Planning) in 2002.

Recognising that my strengths lie in marketing, operations and project management, I decided to focus on the back office rather than follow the traditional career path of a client-facing role. I am proud to be the first person to have risen through the ranks from administrator to join the Financial Consulting Board, having been appointed Associate Director in 2005. I coordinate recruitment for our division and actively champion a career in administration; it is integral to the success of the business. 

In my current role, I am responsible for marketing and operations management on the Financial Consulting Board reporting to the Managing Director. This encompasses the management of all aspects of administration, CRM and technical database integrity, management information and operational reporting and of course, marketing and brand management.