About us

Terry Smith graduated in History from University College Cardiff in 1974. He worked for Barclays Bank from 1974-83 and became an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in 1976. He obtained an MBA at The Management College, Henley in 1979. He became a stockbroker with W Greenwell & Co in 1984 and later joined Barclays de Zoete Wedd, holding the position of the top-rated bank analyst in London from 1984-89. In 1990 he became head of UK Company Research at UBS Phillips & Drew, a position from which he was dismissed in 1992 following the publication of his best selling book Accounting for Growth. He joined Collins Stewart shortly after, and became a director in 1996. In 2000 he became Chief Executive and led the management buy-out of Collins Stewart, which was floated on the London Stock Exchange five months later. In 2003 Collins Stewart acquired Tullett Liberty and followed this in 2004 with the acquisition of Prebon Group, creating the world's second largest inter-dealer broker. Collins Stewart and Tullett Prebon were demerged in 2006 with Terry remaining CEO of Tullett Prebon until September 2014. In 2010 he founded Fundsmith where he is CEO and CIO. In 2012 he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to New Zealand-UK relations following the success of his campaign to commemorate the New Zealander, Air Marshal Sir Keith Park.

Julian Robins started his career with the stockbroking firm EB Savory Milln in 1984, joining the financials research team as an analyst to cover UK clearing and merchant banks and other financial services stocks. In 1987, he joined Barclays de Zoete Wedd (BZW) – where he first worked with Terry Smith – and after its takeover of BZW’s equity business in 1998, CSFB. Between 1988 and 1993, he was BZW’s senior bank analyst in London and from 1993 until 1999, he worked as an institutional salesman in New York. Julian then went to work with Terry at Collins Stewart and was one of the founders of its US office. During his decade with the firm, Julian focused on institutional sales, covering US institutions and also spent two years as co-head of the New York office, which included regulatory responsibilities. Julian co-founded Fundsmith in 2010 and is Partner and Head of Research. He has a 1st class degree in Modern History from Christ Church, Oxford. Julian is a two time Ironman finisher, Oxford University snooker champion, spent two years in the Honourable Artillery Company (UK Territorial Army) and supports a number of charitable organisations.

Mark Laurence began his career as a transport sector investment analyst with stockbrokers Kitcat and Aitken, before moving to WI Carr and then Smith New Court plc. In 1997, he joined Collins Stewart plc and helped develop the group leading up to its MBO and IPO in 2000. Since 2001, Mark has pursued a career in fund management helping to found Fundsmith in 2010. Mark is also a Non-Executive Director of Dart Group PLC and a governor of Bryanston School in Dorset.

Paul was previously CFO at IG Group Holdings Plc, Group Finance Director at Tullett Prebon Plc, Group Finance Director at Mowlem Plc, and Group Finance Director at TDG Plc. Paul started his career with Price Waterhouse in London. He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Leeds and an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.