Thornton Associates are pleased to announce two appointments. Gemma Sutton has taken up a new role after returning from maternity leave and Jo Dugdale has joined the company from Barclays after nine months covering Gemma’s old post. Gemma Sutton is Manx born and attended Castle Rushen High School. Her career began with a short spell as an Investment Dealer for a fund manager following which she moved to Canada Life International (CLI) completing an ILM Level 2 qualification in Team Leading. Gemma spent 6 years at CLI working as a team leader in the Investment Department before joining Thornton Associates Ltd as a Personal Assistant in May 2006. Since then Gemma has implemented many new systems processes and procedural changes at Thornton to ensure a streamlined workflow of the business. After taking a year out on maternity leave, Gemma returned to Thornton Associates in April 2010 where she took up a new position of Office Manager. Since her return to work she has overseen the introduction of a new Back Office Administration system which has resulted in a greater service offering to existing and new clients. She is currently studying the ILM Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management. Gemma commented: “It’s great to be back in the office. The company was very supportive throughout my maternity period and my colleagues have welcomed me back with smiles and new challenges.” Jo Dugdale also Manx born, attended St Ninians High School before continuing her studies at Manchester Metropolitan University to study a BA Honours degree in Financial Services. Jo has worked in a variety of roles in her career and has 10 years experience in Financial Services, initially working for Bank of Bermuda (IOM) Ltd as a Global Custody administrator, Chase De Vere Investments in Bath as a Team Leader providing support to financial advisers, where she passed the Financial Planning Certificate in 2003. Most recently Jo worked for Barclays Wealth as Corporate Lending Team Leader prior to joining Thornton Associates Ltd in May 2009. Jo accepted an offer to join Thornton Associates on a permanent basis following a nine month contract covering Gemma’s maternity leave. Since joining the team she has upgraded her FPC to Cert PFS by taking and passing the CF2 paper and has taken on the position of Financial Planner. Jo is currently studying for her Diploma in Financial Planning and recently sat JO6: Investment Principles, Markets & Environments and AF4 Advanced Diploma, Investment Planning. Jo commented: “I am thrilled to be able to continue working for Thornton Associates. It is both a challenge and a great opportunity to work for the only chartered financial planners on the Island.” Managing Director Sharon Sutton commented on the appointments: “We are delighted that both Gemma and Jo have chosen to further their careers with us and also to continue their studies. As the Island’s only Chartered Financial Planners it is essential we attract and retain such talented, ethical and committed personnel who live and breathe our ethos of ‘giving advice, not selling products’ and who understand the importance of obtaining professional qualifications in a regulated business. This of course applies to both the advice and the processes and in our view the ILM and CII qualifications provide the most relevant platforms for immediate benefit to our clients” - Ends -