Mike Byrne has been elected as the new Chairman of the Jersey Funds Association (JFA). He takes over from Ben Robins, who has been at the helm for the past three years.
Mike, a Partner at PwC Channel Islands, joins Tim Morgan, Partner at Mourant Ozannes, who will serve a second term as Vice Chair at the JFA.
Also on the updated committee are:
• Nick Taylor (Ashburton Investments) – Treasurer
• Steve Cartwright (Crestbridge)
• Michael Johnson (BNP Paribas)
• Niamh Lalor (Ogier)
• Graeme McArthur (Crestbridge)
• Robert Milner (Carey Olsen)
• Daniel O'Connor (Carey Olsen)
• Martin Paul (Bedell)
• Andrew Pitter (Ipes)
• Vycki Price (State Street)
• Mark Rawlins (Collas Crill)
• Peter Rioda (Sanne Group)
• Steven Ross (Rawlinson & Hunter)
• Jenny Swan (JP Morgan Chase Bank)
• Gayle Swanson (Capita Asset Services)
• Nigel Weston (Walkers)
Mike, who has been with PwC for over 15 years, leads on asset management for the consultancy in the Channel Islands, with a focus on private equity and hedge funds.
He returned to Jersey in 2014 after a two-year secondment in Singapore, where he led the firm's development of services in the alternative fund space.
Mike has also been a regular contributor to Jersey Finance's funds sector promotional activity, participating in its roadshows in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Following his election to the role of JFA Chairman, Mike said: "It is an interesting time to take over as Chairman. Against the backdrop of significant political and economic shifts in Europe and the US, Jersey is in a strong position, given its relative regulatory and political stability and certainty.
"As well as there now being in excess of 200 Jersey funds marketing into Europe through private placement, Jersey is also growing its market share in structuring funds targeting assets and investors in other markets in Asia and Africa."
Figures for Jersey’s funds industry show that in the first quarter of 2016 the net asset value of funds administered in Jersey rose to £228.4bn, the second highest level since 2008, with alternative asset classes representing over 70 per cent of that business.