Alastair Walmsley

Responsible for launching and building the firm's ECM business, member of Executive Committee. ECM business was the key growth element of the firm's strategy to address ongoing compression in buy-side wallet for independent research and secondary execution Led design and implementation of new ECM operating model post-merger of Bernstein and Societe Generale's cash equity businesses to establish a new, globally relevant ECM player Won first bookrunner mandates in the US, UK, Nordics and with three financial sponsors where the firms had never previously been awarded equity mandates

The opinion sharing community for institutional investors. As CEO of a capital markets alternative data platform, deriving equity market data signals from institutional investors, I managed a team of 15 financial services, operations and IT professionals, with overall responsibility for strategy, commercial, operational, regulatory, financing and partnerships. Defined all key aspects of business model required to drive user engagement - securing FCA authorisation to streamline institutional onboarding, IT and data security, leveraging machine learning to derive data signals around capital markets events, delivering low latency and intuitive and compelling UI / UX. Grew user base from 200 to 6,000+ institutional investors globally. Led four funding rounds through to commercial partnership and multiple investments from an independent sell-side boutique in order to scale the business rapidly. Advised the board and managed orderly wind up the business in light of reduced market opportunity post-COVID.

Responsible for ensuring that AIB was IPO ready, enabling the Irish state to commence a sell-down of its shareholding when it was ready to do so. Role included management of the AIB project team, external legal counsel, financial advisers, accountants, registrars and all other advisers engaged as part of the process, as well as interaction with the Irish Department of Finance team responsible for AIB and relevant regulatory bodies Scope of role expanded significantly beyond IPO preparation to incorporate additional projects critical to the business and the delivery of value at IPO. These included AIB’s capital reorganisation in late 2015, involving return of €1.6bn to the Irish State, conversion of preference shares into common equity, a share consolidation and ancillary elements, together with all documentation required to effect the reorganisation. In addition, I worked closely with the new AIB UK CEO in 2016 to design and implement a new strategy to address the challenges facing the Group’s UK business, as well as advising on recovery and resolution planning in the context of evolving EU regulatory requirements. Largest EMEA IPO in 2017.

Head of Primary Markets at London Stock Exchange Group, responsible for attracting both domestic and international companies to float in London and for managing LSEG's relationships with all the companies listed on the London markets. Extremely high profile role, acting as the key advocate within the LSE Group for the UK’s financial markets, engaging extensively with all stakeholders, including companies (both listed and prospective IPO candidates), owners, advisers, investors, senior UK and international politicians, media, regulators and industry bodies. Implemented numerous initiatives to drive both growth and cost efficiency, including re-positioning the team's role in the capital raising ecosystem; re-structuring and streamlining the team; creating a strategic engagement program with private equity and other financial sponsors; launching the ELITE program for the UK’s most aspirational smaller companies. Delivered exceptional financial and operational performance: in final fiscal year, delivered record revenues, reduced variable costs by over 40% YoY. Under my tenure the London markets had their strongest year for IPOs since the financial crisis, with 105 IPOs raising c. $20bn in proceeds. Managed a team of 35 professionals, based in London, Milan, New York, Hong Kong and Beijing, with overall responsibility for the LSE’s primary markets business, including attracting companies from around the world to list on LSEG markets and managing the Group’s relationship with all of the companies on its markets in the UK and Italy (c. 2,800 companies).

Corporate broking and equity capital markets role Played a key role in the establishment of a highly successful broking franchise to increase market share in UK equity issuance, M&A and other financing, including increasing retained FTSE 100 client base from one to 20. Provided strategic advice on all aspects of clients’ interaction with the equity markets, including: advising on positioning investment case, financial results and strategic events; project managing equity fund raising and M&A transactions; shareholder liaison ; ensuring compliance with regulatory and other obligations, and; providing broader corporate finance, eg on optimal capital structure, liability management and addressing changes in ownership of UK plc Built and maintained C-suite level relationships with clients spanning a wide spectrum of industry sectors, operational geographies and sizes Completed transformational equity capital raisings for my clients, including IPOs, rights issues, marketed secondary offerings, accelerated placings and equity-linked offerings. Advised on numerous M&A transactions, including buy- and sell-side mandates.

Analyst and subsequently associate in European equity capital markets team Origination, structuring and execution of equity and equity-linked transactions throughout EMEA. Extensive experience on all types of equity and equity-linked structures including initial public offerings, rights issues, follow-on offerings, block trades and convertible bonds. Responding to RFPs, preparing pitch materials, structuring transactions and managing large teams both internally and externally.

Andersen Scholar working in the tax practice in Reading. Subsequent work through university.