Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls will host the annual Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) Awards in Glasgow next month.
He will be joined by Dame Anne Richards, chair of TheCityUK and chief executive of Fidelity International, who will deliver a keynote address to more than 600 senior representatives of the industry.
The speakers were announced at the same time as the shortlist. A record 73 nominations have been submitted for this year’s ceremony, which is sponsored by EY.
Balls said: “I’m thoroughly looking forward to hosting the SFE Annual Awards next month.
“As economic secretary to the Treasury and shadow chancellor I was only too aware of the hugely significant contribution Scotland’s financial and professional services industry has and continues to make to the economic productivity of the entire UK.
“Today, Scotland’s financial and related professional services sector finds itself in a strong position, employing over 145,000 people equating to around 6% of the country’s employment adding a huge £14bn of gross value annually to the economy.
“The sector’s strength and valued reputation for innovation will be crucial if we are to build a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable financial industry that can play its part in solving the big challenges of our time, both locally and globally.”
Richards is an ardent champion of diversity and inclusion within the industry and was appointed a DBE in the 2021 Birthday Honours for "services to financial services, women, education and science”.
She said: “Our industry plays an essential enabling role in the wider economy, acting as the thread that links people, companies and economies together, bringing good ideas to life and helping to build prosperity for everyone.
“Against the headwinds of rising inflation, spiralling energy costs, climate change and regional economic imbalance, our industry can be a driving force for change and progress.
“These awards celebrate the positive contribution of the financial and related professional services industry to the wider community and economy.
“Having spent much of my career working in this industry in Scotland, it’s great to see the awards showcase the talent and innovation that will continue to propel Scottish financial services from strength to strength.”
Outgoing SFE chair Philip Grant will address the annual awards for the final time, following three years in the role and the recent announcement that John McGuigan, former group customer director at Phoenix Group, will replace him. This will coincide with Philip’s retirement from Lloyds Banking Group as he approaches 40 years of service.
Grant said: “My time with SFE has been a huge privilege and I am grateful to have been able to work closely with so many great people and businesses from across the industry and our stakeholders in Scotland and further afield.
“I know that with an outstanding Board, led by John McGuigan, and an equally outstanding chief executive in Sandy Begbie, the organisation has the fundamentals in place to grow from strength to strength.
“Our membership has grown and we have implemented a clear, action-oriented strategy and plan for the development of the sector, all under the vision of having a positive, broader impact across Scotland in the years ahead.
“The fact that this year’s awards will attract a record number of attendees and nominations is testament to the approach we have adopted, and I wish all those worthy individuals and firms shortlisted the very best of luck.”
The awards are taking place on 27 October, at the Doubletree by Hilton, Glasgow Central.
The shortlist for the awards is as follows:
Rising Star
- Reshmi McIntosh, Lloyds Banking Group
- Amit Mistry, Scottish Widows
- Kieran O’Brien, Scottish National Investment Bank
- Malwina Strugala, Hymans Robertson
- Catriona Suttie, Capco
- Mark Tighe, Hymans Robertson
- Allan Traynor, State Street
- Georgia Waterson, NatWest Group
Supporting Economic Recovery
- Bank of Scotland Foundation
- Social Investment Scotland
Leading the Journey to Net Zero
- abrdn
- ACCA
- Hymans Robertson
- NatWest Group
Responding to Changing Customer Needs
- Capco
- Katrina Boyle, TSB
- Karin Brown, Lloyds Banking Group
- Tim Gallant, Standard Life
- Sheena Hales, NatWest Group
- SFE Young Professionals Changing Customer Needs workstream (Schroders, Barclays, Aegon)
- Tesco Bank
Developing Skills and Inclusion
- Aegon
- Burness Paull
- Embark Group
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Reshmi McIntosh, Lloyds Banking Group
- Paula Ritchie, Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest Group)
- Gemma Willman, Royal Bank of Scotland (NatWest Group)
The winner of the Chair’s Award will be announced on the night
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