Carbon makes move south

Scottish firm Carbon Financial Partners is expanding south of the border.

Managing director Gordon Wilson has targeted the London market and opened a new office in the capital’s Bloomsbury Way.

Former Carbon graduate trainee Darren Lee, 30, from Dundee, will spearhead the new operation.

He returns to the business after several years as a wealth manager in London with private bankers Coutts.

The Holborn office is the fifth link in the Carbon chain, which also has a presence in Aberdeen, Perth, Edinburgh and Glasgow. This will be Carbon’s first venture south of the border.

Mr Wilson said: “Given that our clients in Scotland are typically business owners, senior executives and professionals, expanding into London was an easy decision.

“The hard part was finding the right person, living in London, to lead our expansion.

“Darren fits the bill perfectly. He has worked with us before and is a qualified financial planner, with experience of dealing with London’s high net worth individuals.”

Mr Lee said: “I was on the first year of the Carbon graduate trainee scheme.

“Despite leaving for London a few years ago we had kept in touch and this is a wonderful opportunity.

“It will be challenging because we are starting from scratch in a competitive sector in London. It is a blank canvas; we are cautiously optimistic and this is a long-term strategy.”

“The hard part was finding the right person in London”