We bring together experience of working at both the client and agency side, combining expertise in financial markets and payments with skills in creative, digital, events, production and media relations.

People

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    Jake Smith

    Managing Director

  • Jake Smith

    Managing Director

    Jake has worked in Capital Markets for more than 20 years, delivering integrated brand, marketing and PR campaigns for FinTechs, RegTechs, Banks, Exchanges, Trading Platforms, Brokerages and Consultants.

    Always looking to innovate and do things better, he set up Brandex Financial in 2014 to combine his interests of FinTech, RegTech and Capital Markets.

    During his career he has worked for J.P. Morgan, Citi and HSBC, delivering marketing and PR campaigns, promoting foreign exchange, fixed income, cash management and trade services to corporate and financial institution clients around the world.

    Before establishing Brandex Financial, he was Head of Communications at CLS, a financial market infrastructure which settles approximately US $ 5 trillion of foreign exchange transactions every day. He was also Head of Marketing and PR for FXMarketSpace, a multi-million dollar foreign exchange trading platform, funded by CME Group and Thomson Reuters. In this role he managed all marketing and media relations, promoting the successful launch of the platform and subsequent product launches.

    Jake is a marketing and communications professional, with a specific interest in how technology is transforming the Capital Markets. His expertise spans brand development and delivery across multiple channels, including media relations, sales support, advertising, direct, CRM, events, websites, social media, webinars, animation and video.

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    Julian Steedman

    Chairman

  • Julian Steedman

    Chairman

    Julian has developed Brand Experience over the last 20 years and takes overall responsibility for the Brandex family of companies. His expertise and wide-ranging experience in creating and developing international corporate brands began with his training in graphic design.

    He went on to work for Norwich Union insurance (now Aviva Plc), the UK’s largest Insurance company, and swiftly went on to become Head of Design within the corporate division.

    Julian has shaped Brand Experience’s proactive approach to national and international business, and has led his team in delivering successful communications to a broad range of corporate clients around the world.

    Julian was appointed to work alongside the internal management team that implemented the Tokio Marine Kiln merger. In his career he has been strategically involved in brand positioning projects for companies such as Tokio Marine America, HCC, CNA Hardy, IGI, Aviva, MGAA, BIBA, Atrium, European Financial Services Round Table, Towergate/CCV in 17 countries.

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    Bill Yelverton

    Account Director

  • Bill Yelverton

    Account Director

    Bill has worked in Financial Services for more than 25 years delivering sales, marketing and communications strategies for a range of clients – from global banks to FinTech start-ups. He joined Brandex Financial in 2022 to continue to work with clients that align with his interests in capital markets, asset management and ESG transition.

    Early in his career he worked with Merrill Lynch and Prudential Financial, focused on capital markets, private clients and wealth management in a variety of roles. After marketing equities and asset management products at Merrill Lynch he went on to run the wealth management businesses in Greece and later in the UAE. At Prudential Financial he headed sales and marketing for Europe, Middle East and Asia.

    In recent years he has worked with specialist consultancies and research firms looking at how technology is changing the world of financial services.  He works closely with growing firms to define and effectively communicate their propositions - creating marketing strategies and executing integrated communications plans to increase their impact and market presence.

    In 2021 Bill studied sustainable finance at Cambridge University’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership and will bring this experience to bear in advising clients in this space.

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    Rosy Dive

    Client Services Director

  • Rosy Dive

    Client Services Director 

    Working as a key member of the Client Services team for Brand Experience since 2012, Rosy has a strong background following a client services role at a local media company and a two-year stint as an Events Co-ordinator.

    She has built strong working relationships with clients, collaborating closely with those from the insurance, retail and charity sectors. Rosy is experienced in managing small to large-scale projects from start to completion, ensuring that they are delivered to deadline, brief and budget.

    Rosy has single handedly managed the RSPB account, as well as being solely responsible for many and varied accounts such as Reich, VIPR, Dynamo, Morning Data, AdvantageGo, MGAA, Machine Guard and Price Bailey.

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    Clyde Muir

    Senior Account Manager

  • Clyde Muir

    Marketing and Communications Consultant

    Clyde has extensive experience of working in Payments and Capital Markets. 

    Since the mid 1990s, he has been helping global banks like JP Morgan, HSBC and Royal Bank of Canada bring their brands to life and their innovations to market with immediate impact and lasting distinction.  His knowledge of the role of treasurers, investors, asset managers and payment processors, combined with a flair for language, compelling visuals and rigorous planning make him a unique and valued marketing partner. 
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    Jim Binder

    Senior Communications Consultant

  • Jim Binder

    Senior Communications Consultant

    Jim has worked in Capital Markets for more than 20 years as a journalist and in corporate communications. He has served as a Public Relations Director for four of the eight designated U.S. Systemically Important Financial Market Utilities (SIFMUs).

    Earlier in his career he was a journalist, ultimately leading the Standard & Poor's newsletter Securities Week as Managing Editor, writing about market structure and overseeing the transition of Securities Week from a print to a digital publication. Moving from journalism to PR, Jim took on the role of public relations director for The Options Clearing Corp. and The Options Industry Council.

    While at OIC, Jim built the firm’s social media programme, one of the first investor education efforts in social media. The OCC position brought additional responsibilities managing PR for affiliated businesses ChicagoFIRST and the Financial Services Sector Coordinating Council for critical infrastructure protection and homeland security (FSSCC).

    After a decade of options industry public relations, Jim was appointed Director of Executive Communications for the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. writing speeches and thought leadership pieces for DTCC's executive team. He moved back into a global public relations role to further the success of executive communications around institutional trade processing, regulation and increasingly blockchain.

    Returning to the Chicago area in late 2020, Jim began working independently as a communications consultant before joining the Brandex Financial team.

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    Shelley Hazlewood

    Digital Marketing Manager

  • Shelley Hazlewood

    Digital Marketing Manager

    Shelley has worked in Marketing since graduating from the University of East Anglia with a law degree. She has worked in all-round marketing positions covering social media, email, PPC advertising, SEO, copywriting, content creation, web management and CRO. She has worked both in-house and within agencies covering both B2B and B2C sectors 

     Shelley joined Brandex in 2021 and works across all digital marketing and lead generation projects.  

WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?

If you would like our help to build your brand please contact us.

  • When we launched Propellant we approached the Brandex Financial team to help us raise awareness globally in this crowded market. They have in-depth understanding of Fixed Income and Capital Markets and we have worked with them across all marketing and media. We see them as a vital part of our team.
    Vincent Grandjean, CEO Propellant.digital
  • We have worked with Brandex Financial since we launched in 2016. They understand Capital Markets FinTech, and their work in marketing and communications has helped to increase awareness of TransFICC among our global target audience.
    Steve Toland, Founder TransFICC
  • “Brandex Financial is an extension of our business, managing our marketing and PR.”
    Stephan von Massenbach, CRO DIGITEC