Directors

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ASIM is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee managed by a board of non-executive directors elected by the member firms. The directors are:

Michael Orton-Jones (chairman)

iimia plc, Compton House, Abington Street, Northampton, NN1 2LR

Michael is a solicitor and notary public and is currently a consultant with Shoosmiths solicitors and iimia investment group. He is a co-opted member of the Council of the Law Society of England and Wales representing financial services, chairman of the Financial Services and Investment Business Working Party and a member of the Taxation Committee of the Society. His interests include sailing, tennis, gardening, country pursuits, learning foreign languages, reading, fine arts and wine.

Bill Pagan (vice-chairman and chairman of ASIM's training committee)

Pagan Osborne, 12 St Catherine Street, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4HN

Bill Pagan is senior partner of Pagan Osborne Group, Law Firm of the year in Scotland 2003 and a member of the board of the firm's investment house, St Andrews Asset Managers. He has been a solicitor since 1970 and is a member of STEP. He is past chairman of the Law Society of Scotland's Tax Law Committee on which he continues to serve, and is a member of the Inland Revenue's Operations Consultative Committee. He is a regular speaker on tax, charities, trusts and investment policy. Having joined the Territorial Army while at Cambridge, Bill served in the Royal Engineers TA for many years, and travelled widely. He is currently vice-chairman (Army) of Highland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association, Registrar of the Episcopal Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane, and a trustee of several estates and charities. Bill has been married to Gilli since 1974, and they have four grown-up children. Apart from family, Bill's main interests are travel, history and compulsory gardening.

Rod Gentry (treasurer)

Ashcourt Asset Management, 2 Redhouse Farm, Brighton Road, Newtimber, West Sussex, BN6 9BS

Rod is a member of the Securities Institute and managing director of Ashcourt Asset Management. He set up and ran the investment division of DMH (formerly Donne Mileham & Haddock) for 12 years before moving to Ashcourt following a merger of the two businesses. He spent a number of years acting as an assessor to the Law Society's Authorisation Casework Committee prior to N2. Out of work, Rod's spare time is divided between his family and sailing.

Johnston Clark

Blackadders LLP, 30 & 34 Reform Street, Dundee, DD1 1RJ

Johnston is managing partner of Blackadders, a top 20 Scottish law firm with offices in Dundee, Angus and Perthshire. He is also chief executive of Blackadders investment business. He is a member of STEP and vice-dean of the Faculty of Solicitors and Procurators in Dundee. He is a director of Dundee City Developments Limited, a public/private partnership, secretary of Dundee Rep Theatre, Treasurer of Dundee Disabled Children's Association, boxmaster of the Incorporation of the Baker Trade of Dundee and Chairman of Fortay Club.

Alison Matthews

IM Asset Management Limited, Riverside East, 2 Millsands, Sheffield, S3 8DT

Alison Matthews is the compliance officer and money laundering reporting officer at IM Asset Management and for Irwin Mitchell. She has responsibility for overseeing regulatory issues within ASIM. She is also a member of the Money Laundering Taskforce of the Law Society of England and Wales and speaks regularly on money laundering issues. She was previously in the professional ethics division at the Law Society of England and Wales, advising solicitors' firms on compliance with the investment business rules and money laundering requirements. Alison's interests are spending time with her son, swimming, skiing, diving and watching ballet.

Simon Ray

Aventus Capital Management, Ellenborough House, Wellington Street, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL50 1YD

Simon joined Rickerbys in 2000 to head up the in-house asset management department (now re-branded as Aventus Capital Management) and develop the business within the new regulatory environment, following N2. Simon has worked in the investment industry for over 19 years and prior to joining Rickerbys worked for a number of investment companies including Jupiter and Tyndall. He is a member of the Securities Institute and is responsible for marketing within ASIM. Simon enjoys playing squash, swimming and amateur photography.

Robert Smeath

Clarke Willmott, Blackbrook Gate, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton TA1 2PG

Robert specialises in private client work at Clarke Willmott and regularly lectures on Inheritance Tax. As well as advising UK individuals and families, Robert has experience of opportunities available to resident but non domiciled individuals and those wishing to make use of offshore trusts. He has also advised banks and financial institutions on loan arrangements to trustees and beneficiaries of trusts. Robert is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.