Tilney Smith & Williamson names Chris Grigg as chair

Professional services group Tilney Smith and Williamson has named Chris Grigg as its new chair designate.

Effective immediately, following FCA approvals, Grigg will assume the position from the outgoing Will Samuel, who became the group’s inaugural chair following the 2020 merger between Tilney Group and Smith and Williamson.

Grigg provides the role with four decades of commercial and financial services, and already acts as chair of the UK Infrastructure Bank.

Elsewhere, Grigg has served on the board at BAE Systems for eight years, spent a decade as CEO at British Land, acted as chief executive at Barclays’ Commercial Bank, and worked at Goldman Sachs for almost 20 years.

Grigg said: “I want to extend my thanks to Will Samuel who chaired the board of Tilney Group through an extremely successful period of expansion, culminating in the merger with Smith & Williamson. 

“I will be working with Chris Woodhouse, our group chief executive officer, and the rest of the Board to ensure we deliver a great service to all our clients.”  

Woodhouse highlighted Grigg’s “distinguished reputation” and “extensive financial services experience” as a benefit to the group.

He added: “I am looking forward to working closely with Chris as we continue to realise the benefits of our recent merger and embark upon the next phase of growth and development.

“I’d like to take the opportunity to thank Will for his considerable service to the firm during what has been a period of rapid growth culminating in last year’s transformational merger.”