People
Leo Ernest Vaughan Knifton, aged 54, Chairman
Leo Knifton, started his career in the City in 1970 as a Stock Jobber and Market Maker with Pinchin Denny. He became a Member of the Stock Exchange in 1982 and is a Fellow of the Securities Institute. In 1990 he formed Fort Knox Property Services and later Proshore Financial Services Ltd., developing the Proshore business into a significant provider of mortgages and related financial products. Leo became an Appointed Representative of Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited in 2003. He is Chairman of the following AIM listed companies, Adeste plc, Adorian plc, Azman plc, Beaufort International Group plc, PNC Telecom plc, LHP Investments plc and SBS Group plc and a director of Caplay plc whose shares are traded on AIM. Leo is a memeber of the Remuneration Commitee.
Stephen Vaughan Oakes, aged 52, CEO
Stephen Oakes has over 30 years experience in financial markets and is a Fellow of the Securities Institute. He begun his career with stockbrockers Vickers da Costa Ltd, becoming a Member of the Stock Exchange in 1984. In 1985 he joined the then James Capel & Co (now HSBC Investment Bank plc) as a portfolio manager. Increasing management responsibility culminated in the position of Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Investment Management, firstly in respect of the international business and subsequently as acting CEO of the combined UK and international operations. He left HSBC in December 2002 and in October 2003 he joined Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited. He is currently a director of Alltrue Investments Plc and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Securities (UK) Ltd. He is Chairman of Timestrip plc and is also a director of a number of companies whose shares are traded on AIM. Stephen is a member of the Audit Committee.
William Nigel Valentine Weller, aged 58, Executive Director
Nigel Weller began his City career in 1967 gaining a broad range of experience in stockbroking and market making. He has held senior positions in Bisgood Bishop, Morgan Stanley and James Capel and was a founder shareholder and managing director of a brokerage, Javelin Securities, and a voting agency business, Manifest Institutional Holdings Limited. He is a member of the Securities Institute and the Institute of Directors. He is an appointed representative of Alfred Henry Corporate Finance Limited and a director of Adorian plc, Beaufort International Group plc, KleenAir Systems International plc and SBS Group plc, all of which are companies whose shares are traded on AIM. He is also a director of a number of Plus Market companies and a director of Falcon Securities Holdings, Montague Pittman and Falcon.
John Richard Shaw, aged 57, Non-Executive Director
Mr Shaw qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1975 with Touche Ross & Co in London. Subsequently, he spent two years seconded to the Quotations Department of the London Stock Exchange returning to Touche Ross & Co to join the Corporate Finance Group until 1982. After a period as a sole practitioner, he joined Chase Investment Bank Limited in 1985, was appointed a director and founded the Equity Investment Group, formed to invest in unquoted companies. In 1990 he joined Henry Ansbacher & Co Limited. He started working with Clifton Financial Associates Plc in early 1995 and was appointed a director in December 1996. In August 1998 Clifton Financial Associates Plc was acquired by Talisman House Group Plc which then acquired Seymour Pierce Limited in December 1998 where he was appointed a director. In March 2001, he co-founded CFA Capital Group Plc (now Dowgate Capital plc), who through its operating subsidiary, City Financial Associates Limited became a nominated adviser and sponsor. He left CFA Capital Group Plc in July 2004 to form Chatsford Corporate Finance Limited, a corporate finance business authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. He is a director or a number of AIM listed companies and for Alltrue, a member of the Audit and Remuneration committees.