Martin Chesler is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Clermont. He joined the Group as CFO from JP Morgan in 2003 and has led the Group’s transformation and growth for over 15 years. Martin acts as a strategic advisor to high-net-worth families and international businesses and is a director of several regulated financial services firms, including being authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority as a director of Spring Finance Limited, a UK based FCA regulated mortgage lender. Born in South Africa, Martin graduated from the University of Cape Town in Commerce and Accounting and has been a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants since 1999.

Elliot Goodman is the Group Managing Director of Clermont. He joined the Group in 2013 and was a key driver behind its growth in Switzerland, the BVI and the United States. Elliot has extensive experience in establishing and administering complex tax and estate planning structures for high-net-worth individuals and families and advising them on family governance matters. In 2010 Elliot was listed by Private Client Practitioner as one of the top 35 private client professionals under 35 globally and in 2013 was added to the Citywealth Leaders List (where he continues to appear). In 2020 Elliot won the Citywealth Client Rating Award, an award voted for exclusively by end clients, and won Trustee of the Year – Switzerland (Bronze) in the 2022 IFC Awards. Born in London, Elliot graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Architecture before qualifying as a Solicitor (England & Wales) in August 2002. He is also a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Jeff Margolis is a founder of the Clermont Group. He has over 35 years’ experience in the trust industry, having set up his own international trust management business in 1985 before merging it with Norman Epstein’s business to form the Clermont Group in 1996. Jeff qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Cape Town in 1963 and practiced there until 1979, becoming a partner of Epstein, Bloch & Co (now Grant Thornton). Following emigration to the UK in 1979 Jeff continued to practice as a Chartered Accountant before becoming a shareholder in a licenced deposit taking business. Jeff also co-founded Spring Finance Limited, a UK based FCA regulated mortgage lender, and the Cheval Bridging Finance Group which became a leading player in the regulated bridging finance market.

Sharon brings over four decades of accounting expertise to her role as Group Head of Client Accounting. Sharon is a key member of the executive team since 2007. Sharon holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand and qualified as a South African Professional Accountant in 1982.
Her career began in public practice in Johannesburg, where she dedicated 16 years to client-focused accounting, including leading the tax department at Octagon Chartered Accountants. In 1999, after relocating to the UK, Sharon joined a UK practice and progressed to partner, honing her expertise in both tax and client advisory services. Sharon’s extensive experience and commitment to client success underscore her leadership within our finance team.

Mark Anderson is the Group Chief Operating Officer. Born in South Africa, Mark graduated from the University of South Africa in Commerce and Information Systems and completed his Post Graduate studies in Information Systems with the Open University. He has over 20 years’ experience leading delivery, project and operational teams in the Wealth and Financial Services industries and joined the Clermont Group in 2018.

Gavin Lief is the Managing Director of Clermont UK’s Trust and Corporate Services operation, and since January 2024, also leads Clermont’s HR department as Group HR Director. Gavin previously held a leadership role for over 20 years’ for a multinational trust and fiduciary group including managing their UK corporate services office. Gavin establishes and administers UK Trusts and Companies as well as providing key contact services to a number of Group clients. Born in South Africa, Gavin graduated with a Business Science degree from the University of Cape Town.

Kevin is the Group Chief Financial Officer with a solid background in financial leadership across the finance, insurance, and investment sectors. Before joining Clermont, he held senior positions leading finance and analytics functions for major financial institutions and consultancies, including for the Bank of England. Kevin began his career in London, specializing in Audit and Corporate Restructuring.Originally from Mauritius, Kevin holds a degree in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics and an MBA from INSEAD. He is a qualified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS), the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), and the International Coaching Federation in Transformational Coaching. Prior to joining Clermont, Kevin was Group Finance Director for an independent private equity and advisory firm, where he led global finance operations and oversaw full-service accounting and fund administration.

Tania Steven-Jennings is senior relationship manager for the Clermont Group. She graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2000 with a master’s degree in Tax and Company law and was admitted as an Attorney and Notary Public of the Cape High Court. She began her legal career in the Trust and Estates department at Cliffe Dekker in Cape Town before moving into the private client space and focusing of estate planning for high-net-worth South African families. Following her emigration to the UK, Tania joined Clermont in 2015. Tania holds a TEP designation from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is a member of FISA with over 15 years’ experience in trust and estate planning for South Africa families in relation to both their local and cross boarder estate planning.

Sam is Head of Legal at Clermont, having joined us in 2024.  Sam is an experienced trust and private wealth lawyer having qualified as an advocate with Appleby in the Isle of Man in 2010.  Since then Sam has worked for a large international trust company advising trustees and external clients on all aspects of trusts, estate planning, tax and wealth structuring matters.  Sam graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a degree in history and politics and completed his GDL and LPC at Manchester Metropolitan University.  Sam is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Tanya Scantlebury is the Managing Director of the Group’s British Virgin Islands office. She is a native of London and was Called to the Bar of England and Wales in 2005. She began her professional career as an in-house advocate and deputy team leader for a national firm of solicitors in the United Kingdom. In 2010, she was Called to the Bar of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court – British Virgin Islands. In 2011, Tanya relocated to the BVI and was employed as a civil and commercial litigator, before moving in-house as senior legal counsel for an international trust company where she advised on a vast range of contentious and non-contentious multi-jurisdictional trust and corporate matters. In 2016, Tanya joined Clermont and has been integral to the Group’s expansion in the BVI. In addition to her legal qualifications, she also holds TEP designation from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and is a Notary Public and Commissioner for Oaths in the BVI.

Serge Richard has nearly 30 years experience in the trust and wealth management industry. After starting his career in major accounting firms in France, he transitioned to the trust sector in 1995, steadily advancing to senior management roles. He played a pivotal role in building and leading the Swiss arm of an international trust group. Serge served as Managing Director of the Swiss private wealth and corporate division before stepping down in 2023 and then served as Director until September 2024. Serge joined Clermont as Executive Chairman of our Swiss office in October 2024. Serge completed an Executive MBA at NEOMA Business School in 2005. Throughout his career, Serge has helped clients worldwide structure and manage their affairs, drawing on his extensive network of professionals in law, banking, tax, and specialized industries.

Michelle Schoeninger is an executive director of the Clermont Group and joint Head of Swiss Operations. Michelle began her trust career in 2005 in a leading bank in Zurich, Switzerland. Prior, although a lawyer, she worked for several years as a trader. Moving to Geneva, Michelle worked for Summit Trust International Group and Investec Trust (Switzerland) SA, before joining Clermont in 2013. Her legal and finance background give Michelle the necessary tools to manage complex trust structures, which vary from investment vehicles for liquid assets, art collections, commercial and residential properties, private equity, charitable structures, private trust companies and family offices. Michelle speaks 6 languages and has an MBA in finance.

Kim Grover is an executive director of the Clermont Group and joint Head of Swiss Operations. Kim is TEP and FIA qualified with over 20 years’ experience of trust and corporate management, cross border estate and wealth planning. Kim manages complex family office structures for ultra-high net worth families, with particular emphasis on planning for UK resident non-domiciled persons and US persons. Prior to joining Clermont in 2015, Kim worked for an independent trust company in Jersey, Channel Islands and subsequently in Geneva. Kim particularly enjoys working with international families and helping to find a cohesive, multigenerational commitment to the management of family wealth.

Valerie Dagnaud is an executive director and team head within the Clermont Group. Valerie joined Clermont in 2002 after 10 years working with high-net-worth clients at an international investment banking and brokerage firm. She has over twenty years’ experience in offshore trust and company administration, formation of estate planning structures, meeting global compliance obligations, and executing investment and property transactions for high-net-worth individuals and families. She is a full member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Fritha is a team head in Geneva, joining the company in January 2024.  Born in the UK, Fritha started her career in Guernsey and relocated to Geneva in 2008 to establish a Swiss office for an expanding financial services group.  She has over 20 years’ experience providing trust and company management and estate planning services to high net worth clients and working with a diverse range of asset classes.  Fritha is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

Laure is a qualified life science engineer who transitioned into the trust industry, where she earned her TEP designation. Specializing in administering structures and estate planning for high-net-worth individuals and their families, Laure focuses on South African and UK clients. With a strong reputation for excellence, she has been nominated for the prestigious Citywealth Future Leaders Awards (2018 & 2024). Laure is also recognised on the Citywealth Future Leaders List, reflecting her commitment to leadership and innovation in the field

Lauren Ker is the Managing Director of Clermont Trust (Guernsey) Limited and a Chartered Accountant with a Masters in Tax from the University of Cape Town. Lauren was the MD of Rock Trustees Limited prior to joining Clermont, having gained valuable experience at KPMG and Moore Stephens advising financial services firms on tax and M&A transactions in Guernsey and South Africa respectively. Lauren has also worked in the UK social investment sector where she worked on +£100m funds investing in charities and social enterprises.

Dean Southern is an Executive Director at Clermont Trust (Guernsey) Limited. He joined the company following their acquisition of Rock Trustees Limited in May 2023. With over 11 years of experience as a Director at Rock Trustees Limited, Dean has extensive knowledge in managing a portfolio of structures for ultra-high net worth families, with specific expertise in UK commercial property and private equity investments.

Nigel Lee is the Head of Mauritius Operations for the Clermont Group. He graduated from Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia with a degree in Mass Communication and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. He has more than 10 years’ experience in the Global Business Sector in Mauritius with previous roles as Deputy Head of China Desk for DTOS Ltd and Chief Representative of DTOS International Ltd, Shanghai, China.

Didier Parsad is the Head of Accounting and Finance in Mauritius for the Clermont Group. He is a Fellow of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a member of the Mauritius Institute of Professional Accountants. He has more than 10 years of experience in the global business sector with extensive knowledge in accounting and tax planning as well as structuring and administering companies and trusts in Mauritius. He joined the Clermont Group in 2019.

Jennifer Zelvin McCloskey, J.D., LL.M, is a key consultant and adviser to the Group’s operations in the United States where she is an attorney, licensed to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Florida and North Carolina, with over 15 years of experience in business planning, estate planning, and trust administration. Jennifer is also on the faculty at the University of Delaware, Lerner School of Business and Economics, serves as the Director of the Trust Management Minor, and teaches Business Law, Fiduciary Income Tax, Trust Management Symposium and Trusts and Other Fiduciary Entities. Jennifer received her Master of Laws in Taxation from Villanova University, Charles Widger School of Law, her Juris Doctorate from Delaware Law School, cum laude, and her bachelor’s degree from Florida State University. Prior to focusing her practice in the area of business planning, estate planning and trust administration, Jennifer served as an Assistant State Attorney in the 19th Judicial Circuit of Florida.