Boutique, independent Trust and Corporate Services provider, Forward Group announces two new equity partners. Executive board members, Debbie Du Feu and Justine Goodwin have joined Alun Griffiths as owners of the Jersey-based financial services business.
Seasoned professionals in Jersey’s finance industry, Debbie Du Feu joined Forward Group in 2022 and Justine Goodwin in 2023, both as Directors.
Debbie has over 35 years’ experience in providing professional fiduciary wealth management services to private and corporate clients and has worked for both independent and institutional trust companies, being involved with her key client relationships in excess of 15 years. Debbie has looked after a variety of complex structures for her geographically diverse clients. She qualified with the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) in 2001 and achieved the Diploma in 2003.
Justine has worked in the offshore fiduciary industry for more than 30 years looking after a range of private and corporate clients. She has held board positions for both institutional and independent trust businesses since 2001. Her extensive experience has seen her look after clients based all over the world, particularly in Africa, South-East and the Middle East. She qualified as an Associate of the CGI in 1997 and has been a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 1999.
The new equity partners will enable Forward Group to remain an independent director-led business, a structure which the shareholders believe is best suited to focusing on the future needs of its’ international client base.
Forward Group, which obtained its’ registration from the Jersey Financial Services Commission in 2017, was founded by Alun Griffiths. Alun commented on the new shareholder appointments. “I am delighted to announce that two members of our executive board recently became equity partners in Forward Group, joining me as founder.”
“The step up from director to owner, by both Debbie and Justine, represents a natural progression in our ownership and governance structure following their contributions which have been instrumental in our recent growth. Their faith in, and commitment to, Forward Group is equally mirrored by my belief in them and is recognition for their hard work and dedication to the business in recent years.”
“Creating ownership opportunities for those members of the team who provide the biggest contribution to our collective success builds on Forward Group’s ethos of treating its’ staff and clients fairly. Long term staff retention and engagement is the cornerstone of our service offering.
“Forward Group is proud to be one of the seemingly increasingly rare breed of Trust Company Businesses which is truly director- and owner- led and that is further demonstrated with these shareholder additions.”
