Ten years of staying local in a world that keeps moving
A lot can happen in ten years.
When we launched Rocq Capital in 2016, it felt exciting and daunting in equal measure. We had completed a management buyout from the Edmond de Rothschild Group, but we were also stepping out under our own name for the first time.
There was energy in that moment. There was belief. But there was also the responsibility of building something new.
What gave us confidence was the support around us. Our clients, the regulator, our families and our wider circle all encouraged us to push ahead. Most importantly, many clients showed great understanding and faith in us as a team. They believed in the people behind the business and made the move with us.
Winning our first mandate as Rocq Capital was a moment none of us will forget. It gave us confidence, but it meant more than that. It was an endorsement of the team, the culture and the business we were trying to build.
Ten years on, we still treasure every new piece of business in the same way.
In investment management, people often focus on numbers, returns and performance. Those things matter. But they are only part of the story. For us, trust has always been the deeper measure.
Trust in the team and in the process and trust in the way we behave when markets become difficult.
And the last decade has certainly given us plenty to navigate.
Brexit, the pandemic, inflation, rising interest rates, conflict in Ukraine, geopolitical tension and changing global politics have all shaped the investment landscape. The world has felt noisy, uncertain and unsettled.
Locally, financial services have changed too. We have seen acquisitions, closures and consolidation across our sector. Some firms have grown larger. Some have moved away. Some have changed shape completely.
Against that backdrop, we have tried to stay true to what we set out to be. Local, independent, calm, considered and personal.
Being local is not just about where we are based. It affects how we work. Our decisions are made here. Our team is here. Our clients can speak directly to the people looking after them. There are no distant layers or off-island sign-offs slowing things down.
That closeness matters. Clients do not always want constant contact. Many prefer a light touch. But they do want to know we are there when needed, with the depth, experience and judgement to answer questions properly.
Rocq has grown steadily and organically. We have not tried to be the biggest voice in the room. We have focused on building a brand that is local, trusted and typified by independent thinking.
That does not mean we’re standing still. Technology has changed the way we communicate with clients and their expectations have changed too. People want clear information, easy access and straightforward conversations. They want to understand what is happening without being buried in jargon.
But some things should not change.
Our approach remains calm and considered, with high levels of service. Every client receives care from each of their Rocq touchpoints, whether that is through an investment manager, client services or the wider team. We look after our own and look out for others. That has become part of the culture.
Our connection to Guernsey also goes beyond the office.
Over the years, we have been pleased to support community initiatives and events that bring people together. The money raised for Les Bourgs Hospice through 30 Bays in 30 Days and related events has been especially meaningful. Hidden Gardens continues to be a wonderful celebration of island life. And seeing the growth and potential of padel in Guernsey has been exciting.
These things keep us connected to the place we call home. A local business should play a part in local life. Not loudly or for show but because it is the right thing to do.
When we look back over the past ten years, it feels as though we grasped an opportunity and ran with it. We built something independent, steady and rooted in Guernsey. We became what we hoped we could become: a safe pair of hands for our clients.
The next decade will bring more change. Markets will move. Technology will move. The island will move. The world will keep moving.
Our job is to keep thinking clearly through it all. To stay calm, stay close, and stay independent. To keep serving clients properly. And to keep building a business that feels personal, thoughtful and deeply connected to Guernsey.
Ten years on, we are grateful to our clients, our team, our families and everyone who helped us take those first steps.
Our only regret? We wish we had set up Rocq ten years earlier.
But hey ho. We will have to make the next ten count.
