From Product Provider to Wealth Management: My Career Evolution in Financial Services

I began my career in financial services in 1989 with Royal Life International on the Isle of Man, starting out as a quotation clerk. It was a very different world back then, dominated by fax machines, carbon copies, and hand-typed policy schedules. But even then, I knew this was more than just a job: it was a doorway into an industry that would shape my future.

Over the past three decades, I’ve worked with some of the most respected names in international financial services. From the Isle of Man to Singapore, and for the last 25 years, the UAE, my journey has taken me through Scottish Provident International, Friends Provident International, Ardan International (now part of IFGL), Generali International, and Standard Bank Offshore.

Each experience added a new layer to my understanding, of product development, global client needs, cross-border regulation, and the kind of operational discipline that only comes with time and depth. Along the way, I earned qualifications through both the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) and the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), equipping me with the technical foundation and governance expertise essential for leadership roles.

The Turning Point: Why Wealth Management, Why Now?

After decades on the provider side of the industry, I wasn’t actively looking for a new role. But sometimes, the right opportunity finds you when you’re ready for a bigger challenge.

Introduced by Skybound Wealth Management’s CEO, Mike Coady, I was invited to help build something from the ground up: a newly established Corporate Affairs function, serving a rapidly expanding international wealth management business.

It wasn’t just a title change, it was a transformation. A chance to step beyond managing the rules of engagement and instead shape them. To take everything I’d learned and apply it in a way that created structure, governance, and scale from the inside out. I knew immediately: this was the next chapter.

My Role at Skybound Wealth Management

As Group Head of Corporate Affairs, I oversee the governance, structure, and operational alignment of Skybound’s wealth international business. My remit spans the UAE, Cyprus, USA, UK, and Switzerland, with more jurisdictions on the horizon as we continue to grow.

I work closely with Accounts, Compliance, Administration, and legal counsel to ensure that our corporate records, structures, and governance frameworks are accurate, aligned, and forward-facing. It’s both a strategic and operational role, and I thrive in that duality.

Colleagues often say, “This has Veronica written all over it,” and they’re right. I’ve always found satisfaction in building systems that work, simplifying complexity, and ensuring the foundation is rock solid, because growth without structure isn’t sustainable.

What Surprised Me Most

It’s the people.

From my very first day at Skybound Wealth, I noticed something rare: a team that functions with energy, integrity, and unity. No egos, no silos, just a collective focus on doing things the right way. Everyone pulls in the same direction.

At previous multinational institutions, I was fortunate to work with exceptional individuals. At Skybound, it’s not just individuals, it’s everyone. That shared ambition, that professional pride, it’s baked into the culture. And when you get that right, you unlock something powerful.

Skybound Wealth’s global reach isn’t just a map of offices. It’s a community of professionals, connected by purpose and performance, delivering a truly borderless standard of financial advice.

A Final Reflection

One year in, I’ve found myself at the intersection of product providers and wealth managers, and I’ve never felt more fulfilled.

This role brings together everything I’ve worked toward over the last 30+ years: structure, responsibility, innovation, and the opportunity to make a real impact in a business that’s growing fast but never losing its values.

I’m proud to be part of a forward-thinking, client-first organisation, one that was named Company of the Year 2024 by Investment International. But more than that, I’m proud of what we’re building here: not just better systems and stronger governance, but a culture of trust, excellence, and genuine care for clients and colleagues alike.

This chapter feels different. It feels lasting. And I’m more energised than ever about what’s ahead