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Female legacy issues explored at two new events

By Alexandra Newlove

Women make up just 7.7% of family office chief executives, and are under-represented across other C-Suite positions, according to new research.

In the coming months, Campden Wealth will hold two events looking at the challenges women face charting their family legacies, investments and businesses, as well as celebrating female contributions in this space.

The Global Family Office Report, produced by Campden Wealth and UBS, also found women accounted for just 13.2% of chief investment officers, 37.5% of chief operations officers and 37.9% of chief financial officers.

The report surveyed 262 family offices around the world and found the majority of C-Suite positions were held by non-family members. However, a significant number of chief executive positions (44.4%) were held by family, compared to just 11.1% of chief financial officers.

On 23 November, Campden will hold its inaugural Women of Wealth workshop, where eminent female speakers will discuss gender, legacy, and leadership.

Among them, Marie-Amélie Jacquet, a fourth-generation member of the family behind French cognac group Rémy Cointreau, who will discuss her decision making process and key factors that led her to continue the family legacy after originally thinking she would not join the family company.

Another highlight is Myriam Vander-Elst, who will talk about how gender bias impeded her entry into her sixth generation family business, one of France's largest sugar producers.

Natalie Stoneham, Campden Club membership development manager, said the London workshop will provide a "safe harbour platform" for women of substantial wealth to build and develop relationships within a peer network while offering insights, shared experiences and best practices to help with critical decision making and to support the role they play. 

“Campden has successfully run the Women of Wealth programme in the US for seven years, and we are delighted to launch the European Series in London,” Stoneham said.

“This intimate workshop will allow women to become better stewards of their wealth within a private, closed door environment.”

Stoneham said some attendees were already involved with their family offices, businesses and foundations. Others were currently pursuing their own careers, but were considering joining family ventures.

Campden, in conjunction with Julius Baer, will also host some of Switzerland's most interesting and influential women at October's Leading Ladies of Switzerland—Family, Business, and Beyond.

The evening event in Zurich coincides with the launch of Campden's latest research report, which looks at the motivations and challenges women in Switzerland face charting their businesses and family legacies.

Suzy Mayhew, director of events at Campden Wealth, said the evening of cocktails, conversation and flying dinners would be interspersed with interviews with some of the women who took part in the research.

“This will really bring the study to life and help convey these stories, whether the women are business people, mothers, philanthropists, investors – or all of the above,” Mayhew said.

The event, aimed at high net worth women, would also celebrate the emergence of more influential women of wealth.

“Switzerland has a lot of expertise in wealth management and private banking, which for many generations has been the preserve of men,” Mayhew said. “We're now seeing that change and part of this event is to shine a light on that.”


Women of Wealth—Gender, Legacy, and a Family Fortune

Thursday 23 November 2017, 9:15—1pm

Location: Mayfair, London

To register interest: nataliestoneham@campdenwealth.com or +44 (0) 203 763 2817

Leading Ladies of Switzerland: Family, Business and Beyond

Wednesday, 4 October, 2017 – 5.45pm to 8.30pm

Zurich, Switzerland.

To apply for tickets: suzymayhew@campdenwealth.com or +44 (0) 20 3763 2807

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