Our People

Our services are delivered by skilled investment professionals and we continue to grow our business through the reputation of our people.

Our investment managers, pensions and financial planners, and tax and legal specialists are listed below as well as our Board and Executive team. Alternatively, please call 020 7399 0000 to arrange to speak to one of our team.

Melanie Wotherspoon

Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development

Melanie Wotherspoon

Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development

London

Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Jake Wellesley-Smith

Client development director - North

Jake Wellesley-Smith

Client development director - North

Kendal

Jake joined Rathbones in 2020.  He spearheads the client development activities across the North of England and the Midlands, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Jake started his career in finance at Lombard Street Research before moving into the private client investment world with Border Asset Management in Cumbria.  He joined Rathbones after 7 years working for Aberdeen Standard Capital (formerly Standard Life Wealth) following the acquisition of Newton Investment Management's private client arm in 2013.  

Jake is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Jake joined Rathbones in 2020.  He spearheads the client development activities across the North of England and the Midlands, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Jake started his career in finance at Lombard Street Research before moving into the private client investment world with Border Asset Management in Cumbria.  He joined Rathbones after 7 years working for Aberdeen Standard Capital (formerly Standard Life Wealth) following the acquisition of Newton Investment Management's private client arm in 2013.  

Jake is a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Matthew Carr

Client development director - South

Matthew Carr

Client development director - South

Winchester

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2021 to spearhead the client development activities across the South and South West of England. He has responsibility for delivering the wide range of Rathbones services to our clients and is leading the development and management of intermediary relationships across the region.

Matthew started his career in the British Army, before joining Reuters Ltd in London and then Asia. Whilst in Asia, Matthew moved into banking, working for Credit Agricole and subsequently BNP Paribas Equities and Derivatives, returning to London with BNPP. He went on to build an ETF business at Rabobank, before joining Credit Suisse Private Banking in London, where he led the business development team. 

Matthew joined Rathbones in 2021 to spearhead the client development activities across the South and South West of England. He has responsibility for delivering the wide range of Rathbones services to our clients and is leading the development and management of intermediary relationships across the region.

Matthew started his career in the British Army, before joining Reuters Ltd in London and then Asia. Whilst in Asia, Matthew moved into banking, working for Credit Agricole and subsequently BNP Paribas Equities and Derivatives, returning to London with BNPP. He went on to build an ETF business at Rabobank, before joining Credit Suisse Private Banking in London, where he led the business development team. 

Henry Robertson

Business development director

Henry Robertson

Business development director

Liverpool

Henry is a business development director at Rathbones. He operates from the Liverpool office and covers the North West of England and North Wales. His responsibilities include creating opportunities for investment managers to acquire new business from trustees, both charitable and private, lawyers, accountants and private individuals. He joined Rathbones in 1994. Prior to this, he worked at what was then Wise Speke stockbrokers in Manchester.

Henry is a business development director at Rathbones. He operates from the Liverpool office and covers the North West of England and North Wales. His responsibilities include creating opportunities for investment managers to acquire new business from trustees, both charitable and private, lawyers, accountants and private individuals. He joined Rathbones in 1994. Prior to this, he worked at what was then Wise Speke stockbrokers in Manchester.

David Nelson

Senior financial planning director

David Nelson

Senior financial planning director

London

David is a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He joined Rathbones in April 2016 from the multi-family office Stonehage Fleming. David began his financial planning career in 2004 and over that time has provided effective counsel to a varied portfolio of wealthy individuals and families. He has a large professional network and works hard to ensure his clients receive the best possible outcomes and ongoing service.

David has been recognised as one the UK’s leading HNW Wealth Managers in the Spear’s 500, is highlighted on the Citywealth Leaders List and earlier in his career was named in Private Client Practitioner’s Top 35 under 35 on three occasions. He was awarded the inaugural Spear’s ‘young turk’ Wealth Manager of the Year title in 2012.

David is a Chartered Financial Planner and Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. He joined Rathbones in April 2016 from the multi-family office Stonehage Fleming. David began his financial planning career in 2004 and over that time has provided effective counsel to a varied portfolio of wealthy individuals and families. He has a large professional network and works hard to ensure his clients receive the best possible outcomes and ongoing service.

David has been recognised as one the UK’s leading HNW Wealth Managers in the Spear’s 500, is highlighted on the Citywealth Leaders List and earlier in his career was named in Private Client Practitioner’s Top 35 under 35 on three occasions. He was awarded the inaugural Spear’s ‘young turk’ Wealth Manager of the Year title in 2012.

Ramsay Wilson

Client development director - Scotland

Ramsay Wilson

Client development director - Scotland

Glasgow

Ramsay joined Rathbones in 2023. He spearheads the client development activities across Scotland, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Ramsay started his career in 2007 as a Trainee Investment Manager with Brewin Dolphin in London before moving to Switzerland to work for a Zurich based Hedge Fund.

Since returning to Scotland in 2014, Ramsay has held client facing investment roles with a large Family Office, Swiss Bank and a Global Investment Manager.

Ramsay holds an MSc in Investment Management and is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI.

Ramsay joined Rathbones in 2023. He spearheads the client development activities across Scotland, delivering discretionary portfolio management services to private clients, charities and trusts. He is also responsible for developing and managing intermediary relationships.

Ramsay started his career in 2007 as a Trainee Investment Manager with Brewin Dolphin in London before moving to Switzerland to work for a Zurich based Hedge Fund.

Since returning to Scotland in 2014, Ramsay has held client facing investment roles with a large Family Office, Swiss Bank and a Global Investment Manager.

Ramsay holds an MSc in Investment Management and is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI.