ED Group provides foundations for Oakbridge Funds launch
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ED Group provides foundations for Oakbridge Funds launch 09 March 2021Jersey Reporter: Maddie Saghir
Image: From left to right: Robin de Gruchy-Wilson, Jonathan Crawford, Jamie Crawford, Alex Smyth
A new Jersey-based independent specialist fund administrator Oakbridge Fund Services has launched to service the alternative funds sector.
ED Group, an investment business with activities in the UK, Europe, North America and the Channel Islands, is the majority owner of Oakridge Funds.
Oakbridge Funds, which focuses on the main alternative asset classes with a focus on private equity and venture capital, will provide administration services to offshore closed and open-ended funds and corporate structures.
The company is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for the conduct of Fund Services Business and Trust Company Business.
The Oakbridge team previously worked together at a pan European multi-jurisdictional fund administration business and have more than 40 years of experience working in the fund services sector.
Jamie Crawford joins the Oakbridge Funds board as a director. Crawford has extensive financial services experience and investment knowledge and is also a director of ED Group.
Meanwhile, private equity professionals Robin de Gruchy-Wilson, Alex Smyth and Jonathan Crawford will lead Oakbridge Funds’ operations and service led approach.
Gruchy-Wilson, Oakbridge Funds managing director, says: “We have founded Oakbridge Funds with a clear vision. We are a dynamic and ambitious team. We have a clear strategy for growth and our independent ownership structure means we are navigators of our own journey.”
According to Gruchy-Wilson, Oakbridge Funds’ launch comes at a time when there is demand in the market for a truly independent specialist provider.
“We are based in Jersey with a focus on carrying out fund administration for multi-jurisdictional funds using industry leading technology and have no intention to outsource any of this work. We believe in excellence and attention to detail and our experienced Jersey-based team is very well placed to achieve this,” he comments.
Crawford explains: “Our venture with Oakbridge Funds echoes ED Group’s ethos of investing in and helping innovative companies grow. We already have substantial experience and resources in the local financial services sector between our existing trust company and investment businesses.”
“We look forward to working with Robin de Gruchy-Wilson, Alex Smyth and Jonathan Crawford to grow Oakbridge Funds into a leading specialist administrator in the funds sector. ED Group is delighted to provide a solid foundation for the launch and growth of Oakbridge Funds,” adds Crawford.
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Image: From left to right: Robin de Gruchy-Wilson, Jonathan Crawford, Jamie Crawford, Alex Smyth 