Your team

Derek Sumsion

In 2012, Derek left HSBC to found eightfourtwo. He has over 30 years’ experience in the Wealth Management Industry, including a decade of working within HSBC’s Corporate Banking in Pall Mall. During this time, he provided regulated financial advice to businesses and their owners.

His specialism is investment management and the associated estate/succession planning to individuals who owned businesses and where applicable, the subsequent sale, merger and listing of these companies.

Derek’s primary role now is focusing on financial planning for our Members. With his extensive experience and expertise, no one is better suited to coming up with the right solution for the wide array of planning challenges encountered today.

Favourite journey: Being shipped to the South of France on a one-way ticket, aged 11.

Christopher Cole

Chris has over four decades experience in Professional Services.

He is a Chartered Engineer who joined WSP as a partner at its inception, becoming Managing Director in 1987. Under his leadership, WSP was the first engineering consultancy to become a fully listed public company in 1990, growing from a single-discipline UK consultant firm of 200 people to a 9,000 strong multi-disciplinary global player prior to its 2012 merger with GENIVAR.

Today, WSP Global Inc. employs 65,000 people worldwide. Chris has chaired the Board since the merger and holds other Non-Executive positions for listed companies. We are immensely proud to have Chris as a consultant.

Favourite journey: Holiday on the Isle of Wight in an Austin A35.

Matthew Bowen

Matthew started working in financial services in 2006, at the age of 17. Having graduated with an Honours Degree in Law in 2011, he continued his studies and obtained the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Chartered status in June 2017.

His experience in technical matters covers cross border taxation, commercial financing, company succession planning and probate administration. His specialisms are the provision of Trust Corporation Services and the implementation of bespoke wealth preservation frameworks that include Wills, Trusts, Family Investment Companies and offshore tax planning vehicles.

Matthew’s passion is building a positive reputation for eightfourtwo, and this depends on all our Members receiving the same great level of service.

Favourite journey: Returning home to be greeted by “Daddy!” at the front door.

Amber Blastock

Amber began working in the financial services industry in 2013. With a strong background in business management, she takes responsibility for all operational roles throughout the company. As a result of her organisational skills, everyone in the team is able to work more efficiently, productively and with a smile on their face.

Being solutions orientated, she is energised by making everyone’s life easier. Official standard bearer for the team, she is passionate about our people, their wellbeing and ensuring a healthy work/life balance.

There aren’t many things that can grow an amazing culture within a company like knowing your voice can be heard and Amber believes communication is the key to ongoing success.

Favourite journey: Travelling to Cyprus to get married with only the children in tow.

Monty Verdi

Monty’s career in Advertising spans over 25 years with major creative awards across every channel from Design, Posters and Digital to Social, Content and Film.

He graduated from Central St Martin’s School of Art with an Honours Degree in Graphic Design before working in the Creative departments of prominent London agencies, progressing to European and Global Creative Director for the likes of Lexus, Samsung, Shell & Canon.

As the originator behind the eightfourtwo name and identity, Monty has been involved with the company since it was founded and, as Creative Director, oversees all aspects of our brand and creative output.

Favourite journey: The journey from my home to the airport, with all the anticipation of arriving at a new destination.

Rachel Goh

As eightfourtwo’s longest standing ambassador, Rachel pioneered our Relationship Manager role, successfully establishing and nurturing long lasting Member relationships for over eight years.

Overall, she has more than 17 years’ experience working in the Retail Banking and Wealth Management industry and has achieved the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning.

Rachel has since become our first Business Development Manager and is once again excited to evolve a new role and make it her own. Through her knowledge of developing and maintaining relationships, with both internal and external stakeholders, she is key in helping grow our business.

Favourite journey: Climbing Adam’s Peak in Sri Lanka to see the sunrise from the summit.

Ian Peters

After graduating from Sheffield University in 2005 with a Masters in Mathematics, Ian jumped straight into financial services.

Moving to London in 2010, he quickly attained the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Chartered Status in 2012 and now also holds the CFA Institute Investment Management Certificate.

He has worked at some prestigious advisory firms in the City of London, providing high level technical support and holistic planning to financial planners. Numbers has always been his thing, so it was no great surprise when he found his way to eightfourtwo.

Here, Ian brings strong technical aptitude and an analytical mind to solve planning requirements for our Members, while providing them with a truly exceptional service.

Favourite journey: Travelling and eating his way through seven countries in South-East Asia over six months (enjoying the heat from both sun and food).

Eve McLoughlin

After accruing six years’ valuable experience in the customer service industry, Eve joined eightfourtwo as a Technical Assistant In 2018. This role provided her with a sharp learning curve, as she gave support and administrative assistance to the technical team.

Keen to broaden her knowledge and experience as fast as she possibly can, she is currently studying towards the Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Certificate in Financial Services.

Having progressed rapidly to Relationship Manager, Eve now delivers an outstanding level of service to our Members and her bubbly enthusiasm and boundless energy are a huge asset to the team.

Favourite journey: The rollercoaster ride we call life!

Haydn May

Haydn graduated in Business Finance and Accountancy before embarking on a career in financial planning that has, so far, spanned 20 years and brought many qualifications including Chartered Fellowship with the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII).

His journey has taken him via HSBC, NHS Pension specialist Cavendish Medical and Smith & Williamson (Evelyn Partners), before leading to eightfourtwo in 2022. While Haydn joined us during a tough year for the industry, he has worked through two financial crashes already and knows that good advice enables clients to weather periods of uncertainty, as well as flourish through the good times.

Haydn is a keen scuba and wreck diver and, when on dry land, is a fan of National Trust properties and RHS gardens.

Favourite journey: Touring the length of the US West Coast in 2005 when there were $2 to the pound.

Alice Ruben

Following six successful years working for HSBC, Alice has that special knack of being able to quickly develop trust with anyone and everyone. 

As a Relationship Manager, she prides herself on delivering a level of customer service that wealth management firms with call centres can only dream about. Always keen to add to her skillset, Alice is now working towards her Chartered Insurance Institute’s (CII) Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning. 

Thriving in a team environment, Alice likes to ensure everyone has a smile on their face, no matter the time of day (not great news for those of us who aren’t morning people).

Favourite journey: Anywhere she can find her much-loved family and friends.

Matthew Higgs

With seven years’ experience in the Financial Services sector, Matthew joined us as a Financial Planning Administrator. With calm capability, he provides our Members with assistance covering a wide-range of wealth planning solutions.

He enjoys the variety that comes with playing an important role in the wider team’s efforts to provide the optimum solution for each different situation. Keen to keep developing his career, he has obtained his Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) Investment Advice Diploma.

Outside work, Matt is a keen musician and enjoys playing Piano and Bass and listening to music across many genres. We suspect Northern Soul might be his favourite, considering how our Spotify playlists have mysteriously morphed since his arrival.

Favourite journey: Road tripping across four States, from Las Vegas to Denver.

Tilly Stephenson

Over two years’ customer service experience in the hospitality industry provided Tilly with the perfect grounding for eightfourtwo, bearing in mind the importance our business places on developing strong relationships with our Members.

Add to that her proactive nature and it’s no wonder she hit the ground running in her role as an Operations Assistant, providing valuable administration support to the management team.

Impressing everyone with her can-do attitude, Tilly is now training as a Financial Planning Administrator and she loves the fact that every day at the office seems to bring a brand new challenge.

Favourite journey: Trip to Paris in 2016.