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Andy Finch, the chief executive of Canaccord Genuity Wealth (International) Ltd, has been with the firm for more than 20 years and has experienced seismic change for the business he now leads. He spoke to JEP Business about culture, vision and success
IT is not lost on Andy Finch that he took over the role of chief executive of Canaccord Genuity’s international business in the Crown Dependencies on 1 April 2020 but the veteran of two decades of change and growth is no fool. He has a forensic focus on creating a work environment that encourages personal and professional endeavour, resulting in sustainable returns for clients.
Andy joined Canaccord Genuity in 2002, when the business employed around 30 people. There are now 182 staff, predominantly in Guernsey, working across diverse disciplines including investment management and client and technology services.
‘I chose well to join a firm that would offer me a succession of opportunities,’ he said. ‘We were small but we were in an expansionist period. The business wanted to develop and grow and that aligned with my own aspirations.’
Leadership is something Andy takes very seriously.
‘I think leadership is about moral courage, about doing what you know is right, rather than what’s easy,’ he explained. ‘Simon Sinek has a philosophy that there’s a finite game and an infinite game. The finite game is about what we are doing this month, this quarter, this year, and then there is the infinite game – the bigger picture.
‘While in a business like ours maintaining a focus on delivering in the here and now is vital, my philosophy for life is to focus on the infinite game – the longer-term strategy.’
Since Andy joined Canaccord Genuity, the finance industry has evolved and Canaccord Genuity has matured with it, with assets under management growing by more than 400%.
So, how does a business that is at the top of the crop stay there?
‘We recruit the best people, and we invest in technology wisely,’ he said. ‘I fundamentally believe that diverse teams create better results. The combination of state-of-the-art systems and talented people delivering the right outcomes creates a brilliant experience for our clients, which holds us true to our brand promise: build your wealth with confidence.’
Canaccord Genuity has built its model upon four key values: accountable, aligned, ambitious and approachable. For Andy, now leading the charge, how challenging is it to consistently deliver against these objectives?
‘It’s all about human relationships and building long-term relationships with our clients and partners. We embrace technological change because it enables our people to be their best, not to replace how they interact with other people,’ he said.
‘We have three pillars to success – people, clients and performance. I want us to be an employer of choice and an investment manager of choice. Those are quite simple, honest objectives. There is no secret sauce to great performance, just hard work and attention to detail.’
Ultimately, Andy believes that culture is what defines a business and those who lead it.
‘Culture is not a poster on a wall, it’s not something that is decided in the boardroom, it’s the way you do things,’ he said.
‘Whether that is how we welcome and treat our clients, how we enable our people to achieve their aspirations, or how we engage with and support our Island communities, it’s who we are and what we do that really matters. I believe our culture is what sets us apart and will make us successful and, ultimately, will triumph in both the finite and the infinite game.’
