Neil Baines-Thomas
Neil has over 30 years’ experience within the financial services sector covering Advice & Investment Management, Business Development, Human Resources and Change Management. During this time, Neil has managed sales teams at HFC Bank and Bradford & Bingley before moving onto Legal & General IFA Division where he launched the L&G Business Club, providing business consultancy and training to IFAs. At Close Brothers Asset Management (CBAM), Neil led the people integration programme for a number IFA acquired businesses, numerous proposition developments and business critical projects. He also was responsible for all Adviser training and induction and led the redefinition and delivery of CBAM’s culture & values programme.
Specialist areas and key skills:
Neil has extensive experience in formulating, delivering and supporting initiatives within large multisite locations within the wealth management sector and holds the ability to work operationally and strategically, including ‘hands on’ training. His areas of speciality are:
- Acquired Business Integration: Assisting firms in the post-acquisition phase with the process, people and cultural integration.
Change Programme Management: Managing and delivering change management projects including advice sales process review and mapping.
- Culture & Values Alignment: Experience in identifying and embedding the unified purpose and core values of the organisation.
- Leadership & Management Development: Strong track record of developing leadership, management and supervisory skills in a regulated environment.
- Client Engagement & Relationship Management Skills: Worked with a number of senior regulated fee-generating individuals to develop their relationship management skills.
Companies/brands Neil has worked with:
- Close Brothers Asset Management
- Legal & General
- Bradford & Bingley Group
When asked...
What inspired you to move into consultancy?
“I moved into consultancy as I sought to have more choice, flexibility and variation in the work I want to do. Also, to focus on my core areas of expertise and to have the opportunity of working with firms of varying stages of progression from start-ups to long standing establishments. I have found the change refreshing and motivating plus it had given me the opportunity to grow which jointly benefits both me and the people I work with.”
What would you consider to be your greatest professional achievement?
“Redefining and delivering and embedded a culture the organisation wanted to be known for and having upwards of 550 people understand and get behind it. The results were outstanding.”