About us

Katherine is the Chief Executive Officer of Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited. She has decades of experience in global asset management, both in the institutional and retail sectors and across a broad range of investment disciplines. Prior to leading GIB UK, she was the CEO and Executive Director of Alliance Trust plc. Her previous experience includes serving as CIO and Executive Director of Morley Fund Management (now Aviva Investors), as well as CIO of Aberdeen Asset Management.

In 2014, Katherine was awarded a CBE for services to the asset management industry and charitable services through the Baring Foundation. She is Chair of both the Clean Air Fund and the CDP Worldwide Board and previously served as a British Business Ambassador for Financial Services.

Katherine graduated from Durham University with a BA Honours degree, is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals and studied Leadership and Public Policy for the 21st Century at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Ralph is the Chief Financial Officer of Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited and has overall responsibility for the firm’s finances and financial strength. Prior to joining GIB UK, he worked at Martin Currie Investment Management for over 15 years, as the Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, he was a Finance Director at GE Capital.

After graduating from Heriot-Watt University and qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with Coopers & Lybrand, Ralph spent five years as a Senior Consultant and Financial Controller in Australia. Ralph is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Ralph is also a Trustee of Horseback UK, a charity which supports physically and emotionally injured servicemen & women and also young adults.

Venetia is the Head of Strategy at GIB Asset Management and has overall responsibility for devising and implementing the company’s strategy. In particular, she leads the company’s efforts to achieve its vision of scaling and mobilising capital in support of its sustainable investment strategies. Venetia joined GIB Asset Management from the Bank of England where, most recently, she was Deputy to the Chief Operating Officer. She was involved with forming and implementing the Bank’s strategic plan, prior to which she worked in monetary analysis.

In 2017, Venetia was named one of Management Today’s 35 Women Under 35. She is an alumna of the Mentoring Foundation and a fellow of the Forward Institute. Venetia graduated with an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and an MA degree in Economics from the University of Cambridge.

John is the Head of Global Business Development. He is responsible for driving the overall growth of the asset management business, leading all business development areas including product development, distribution and marketing. John has three decades’ experience across all aspects of the investment management industry, both in managing clients’ money and managing investment businesses.

John started his career at Schroders, where he spent 14 years initially as a UK equity manager and moved on to establish and manage the firm’s business in sub-Saharan Africa. He subsequently worked for RMF/Man Group, where latterly, he led the multi-manager business in London. Other roles include Head of EMEA at Brookfield Investment Management and AMP Capital. John graduated from the University of Cambridge with an MA degree in Engineering.

Simon is the Head of Treasury at Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited. He is responsible for all treasury and cash management services provided by the business. With over three decades’ experience at GIB UK, Simon leads all foreign exchange, money market, cash management, and deposit services and all associated relationships with global institutional clients. He is also a member of the firm’s Product Governance Committee and Assets and Liabilities Committee.

Simon has more than 30 years’ experience across various treasury roles at GIB UK; including asset and liability, cash and interest rate risk management. He previously served as an FX and Money Market Senior Trader before heading the treasury function in 2018.

David is the Chief Operating Officer of Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited. Having served in this role for several years, David is responsible for all major operational functions at GIB UK, including technology, operations and portfolio performance and control. He is a member of the firm’s Change Management Committee and Business Risk Committee. Representing the asset management business at GIB Group, he serves in the Senior Management Committee, Operational Risk Committee and Change Control Board.

David has more than 30 years’ experience in various operational roles at GIB UK; he was previously the Head of Operations and Information Technology. Prior to this, he worked in commercial lending and export finance at Midlands Bank.

Sophie is the Chief Risk Officer of Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited. She is responsible for driving an effective risk culture throughout the company, designing the risk and compliance frameworks and overseeing risk management and regulatory compliance practises. Sophie joined GIB UK with extensive experience in the field, having previously served as Executive Director for Compliance and Operational Risk Control at UBS Asset Management. Before this, she was Global Head of Operational Risk at Barings, and non-Executive Director of the Baring-Coller Secondaries Fund. Sophie was also an Operational Risk Manager and the Group Head of Investment Risk Framework at Schroders.

Sophie graduated from Université Lumière Lyon 2 with a Master’s degree in Economics and Finance. She is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.