New G.H. Financials chief Sharon Shi hits the ground running

Sharon Shi, the new group chief executive of G.H. Financials, has said she and her management team are already working on a new strategy that could see the broker expand into new regional markets, client segments and asset classes.

Shi, who officially became group chief executive officer of G.H. Financials Group last week, said the firm’s founder and majority shareholder Gedon Hertshten, its board and management committee are discussing a new medium-term strategy.

Shi told Global Investor: “I’m very excited to assume the group CEO role of G.H. Financials and being surrounded by an excellent team. ‘Long-term Focus’ and ‘Innovation’ are always the key elements of the GHF corporate culture. With the great support from the majority shareholder, the Group Board and the entire ManCom team, a new business strategy for GHF Group is being formulated for the next two to five years.”

Shi added: “I am very excited about the potential new jurisdictions, new client segments and new asset classes we are about to explore in the future. I cannot wait to work more closely with my team here to implement those ideas and initiatives which I have no doubt would bring GHF to the next level.”

Her appointment last week as GHF Group chief executive officer marks the end of a transitional period in which Shi’s promotion had to be approved by UK regulators and she transferred to London from Hong Kong, where she was previously GHF’s head of Asia.

Shi was named as GHF’s CEO-elect in late March, pending the regulatory approval and the requisite UK working visa, as first reported by Global Investor.

Shi, who joined the broker more than a decade ago, was latterly the managing director of G.H. Financials Hong Kong, responsible for GH’s fast-growing Asian business. She was also a board director of the London-based group.

Before joining GH, Shi held various trading and banking roles in Mainland China, including at China Construction Bank, and worked for a period at Shanghai Futures Exchange.

Shi has an MBA in Banking & Finance from the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore as well as qualifications as a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM). She is also a certified Derivatives Specialist by the Hong Kong Securities & Investment Institution

G.H. Financials’ former group chief executive Mark Phelps left in February to become the European head of rival broker RJ O’Brien.

Shi is now the most high-profile Asian female chief exec in a broking industry still dominated by men. Global Investor would like to wish her every success.