09.02.09

Simon Hull Appointed to the MFG board

Conister Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Simon Hull as Managing Director.

Simon joins Conister Trust, the island’s only independent Manx bank, from an equivalent role at Alliance and Leicester, Isle of Man. He is well-placed to lead Conister Trust, having spent 20 years in the banking industry both here on the island and in the UK. After graduating from the University of Swansea with an engineering degree, he spent four years working with the Ministry of Defence before moving into the finance industry and a graduate trainee role with Alliance and Leicester.

From there, he achieved various promotions within the group including Branch Manager at a number of locations around the UK, and Executive Assistant to both the Managing Director of Insurance and the group Director of Operations. In 1999, Mr Hull moved to the Isle of Man to take over as Managing Director of Alliance and Leicester International Ltd, based in Douglas. With this role came two other subsidiary roles – Chair of the A+L International Fund plc and Managing Director of A+L International Fund Managers Ltd.

During his time in the Isle of Man, Mr Hull has proved himself to be an accomplished leader, taking responsibility for the development and implementation of the company’s offshore strategy.

After successfully overseeing a business recovery plan during his first year in post, he left his role having achieved a 180% increase in Isle of Man deposits, developed the company’s IT infrastructure including selecting and implementing a new banking and customer management system, and developed the company’s online banking capability.

As well as his achievements within Alliance and Leicester, Mr Hull holds a number of professional qualifications and memberships which will prove very beneficial to his new role at Conister Trust. As well as being former Secretary of the island’s branch of the Institute of Directors, he is an Associate Member of both the International Compliance Association and the Compliance Institute, and a Fellow of the Sales and Marketing Institute and the Chartered Management Institute. He also has a Post Graduate certificate in Financial Regulation and Compliance Management, and a Diploma in Company Direction.

Outside of work, Mr Hull is a Level Five qualified football referee, holds a private pilots licence, and enjoys watching cricket, walking and travel. He lives in Laxey with his wife, Christine.

Of his new role as Managing Director of Conister Trust, Mr Hull commented: “I feel very privileged to be joining the Isle of Man’s only independent Manx bank, and to be given the chance to work with such an experienced and committed board and group of staff who share a common desire to serve the Manx public.

“My challenge is to ensure that Conister Trust delivers on its significant potential; I believe there is scope to expand the bank and further improve on its already strong performance. My role is to implement changes that will bring enormous benefits to both our customers and the Isle of Man.

“Conister Trust is in a strong position; our cash balances are healthy, we have no exposure to wholesale funding and we have never been involved in sub-prime loans or mortgage lending. Customer deposits are growing at a pleasing rate as people recognise we are a safe haven in the current economic climate. Our attitude towards banking is based on traditional values of responsible lending, ensuring that any risk is kept at completely acceptable levels.

“Although the current economic climate is indeed challenging, and certainly the worst that I personally have experienced, our customers have showed amazing trust and loyalty towards us. Increasing numbers of customers reinvest their money with us time and time again. I am very much looking forward to this chapter in my career at Conister Trust.”