GreySpark Partners, the capital markets consultancy, has opened a new office in Hong Kong, to support its APAC clients.
Founded in 2009, GreySpark has been built into a leading consultancy with global clients. The firm now has over 50 consultants delivering projects in seven countries, with Hong Kong being the newest hub they open after London. This move gives GreySpark a firm footing in the region, as Asian markets continue to perform impressively.
GreySpark’s Hong Kong office will provide on-site and local delivery for client projects that are currently being managed from the UK. Driven by client demands, it is clear that the region faces shortages of highly specialised skills, which GreySpark will provide.
As financial markets have expanded and diversified, and client focus has become increasingly global, the Asian markets have become more and more strategically important. Despite the continuing global financial crisis, the region still enjoys significant growth, compared to contraction of the wholesale finance sector experienced in Europe.
Grey Spark Partners currently caters for the buy-side, including investment managers, asset managers, hedge funds; the sell-side, including investment banking, corporate banking, brokers and dealers; as well as solution providers, including exchanges, multilateral trading facilities, electronic communication networks, market data providers and independent software vendors. This emphasis will be rolled out in their APAC operations. They plan to open a New York based operation in 2013.
The team will be led by Andrew McLauchlan, Partner & Managing Director Asia Pacific. He will be responsible for overall strategy and operations, focusing on bringing increased value to existing and new clients. Prior to this role, McLauchlan was based in London as Partner at GreySpark, and before this was business development director for NET2S where he managed a team of sales executives, as well as being directly responsible for the firm’s major accounts.
“You cannot ignore that the centre of gravity of global financial institutions is shifting East,” says Frederic Ponzo (pictured), Managing Partner, GreySpark. “Out of all the global financial centres to expand to, Hong Kong is the obvious choice. Since GreySpark launched in 2009, we have seen sustained growth and our move to open an office in the region aims to maintain this momentum. We are very much looking forward to supporting our existing clients in the region, as well as providing cutting edge expertise to the growing financial sector.”
McLauchlan says: “I am very excited about the prospects of working in a new market with an existing and new client base. We aim to assist clients as their goals and scope change, and welcome the opportunity to provide firms operating in the region with local expertise and support.”
