Esop Stars Profile

Published: 18 March 2020

Louise Drake is the national sales manager at YBS Share Plans.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?The great thing about employee share ownership is that it can be designed for so many different uses, every company is different and so is each employee. The benefits are endless - retention, succession planning, recruitment, reward and motivation or as part of a programme of financial wellbeing and resilience - with a range of plans available to help achieve this, e.g. engaging employees through Free Shares in the SIP or longer term plans such as Sharesave … 

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Published: 18 December 2019

Brian Basham is chairman of corporate research company Equity Development and famed City campaigner. Former Times journalist and "still a journalist at heart" Brian was one of the leading players in the great era of contested takeovers and is now also a leading campaigner for corporate and other good causes.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Encourage employees to think like an owner, especially when transitioning exiting owners.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Through educating managements about the many advantages of Esops.What would you … 

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Published: 23 August 2019

Paul Mark, member of the Massachusetts House of RepresentativesPaul Mark is a Democrat member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, elected in 2010 and representing the second Berkshire District. As the active Democrat in the state House of Representatives Paul has successfully reinstated state support for Esop. His constituency has a particularly high percentage of workers in Esop owned companies.Representative Mark’s support of and contribution to employee share ownership plans is seen in his proposed bills, including Bill H.1661‘ An act relative to job creation through employee ownership’, put forward earlier this year. The … 

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Published: 25 April 2019

Paul Jackson, columnist, Investors’ ChronicleIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Inclusion. People who have a tangible stake in their employer feel not only that they are more valued, but also that they belong more in the organisation. It helps employee engagement and encourages greater conscientiousness, which also helps to increase productivity. I’d also say that sooner or later, share owners start asking what causes the share price to move, and that in turn leads to a greater interest in the company strategy and a greater awareness of the part they play in … 

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Published: 27 November 2018

Christian Gabriel, ceo and and co-founder, Capdesk In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?A new trend has been consolidated over the last 10 years, with fast-growing companies avoiding the stock exchange and staying private. I will boldly argue that this has resulted in the de-democratisation of capital markets. The average person is excluded from buying shares in Uber until the valuation is sky high and therefore too late to invest. Instead, most value will be captured by institutional investors and high networth individuals with access to private equity deals. This makes it increasingly important for companies … 

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Published: 18 October 2018

Pete Stavros of KKR, member & head of Industrials In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Broad-based employee share ownership aligns incentives, improves culture and ultimately enhances performance of the company.  It shares the resulting higher profits with all employees, which is the way it should be because – as we all know – everyone contributes, not just those at the top. How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?We need serious study of the impact of employee share ownership on both the company and its employees.  It needs to be objective and impartial … 

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Published: 18 July 2018

June Davenport of Solium, head of EMEA trust and nominee servicesIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Attracting and retaining key staffAllowing employees to share in the success of the companyHelping align employees with corporate goals and cultureHow can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Reduce vesting periodsSimplify plans and provide easier access to sharesImmediate visible access – something tangible for a mobile generationWhat would you tell someone on the fence about introducing employee share ownership to their company?Review your culture and see how or if a share plan would be a good fitDo a … 

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Published: 18 June 2018

David Pett of Temple Tax Chambers, barristerIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Structured appropriately, it fulfills the widely-accepted principle that “for so long as an individual invests his or her time and labour, he or she should benefit from the growth in capital value to which they contribute”.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?By educating company owners and managers of the benefits, and by easing the way for companies and their shareholders to establish share plans in a straightforward and cost-effective manner.What would … 

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Published: 25 May 2018

Charlotte Fleck of Pett Franklin, solicitorIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Stories about rising inequality and the UK’s poor productivity growth seem to be all too common in the news. Employee ownership is only part of the solution – but it’s an important one! Employees need to know that when the business they work in succeeds, they can share in the value they’ve helped to create.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Awareness is part of it – lots of business owners don’t know what … 

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Published: 19 April 2018

Mike Pewton , executive director of Solium Global ComplianceIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?The main aim of employee share ownership at an all employee level is to bring employees together behind the company. Giving them more of a sense of identity with their company while allowing them to share in any success of the company.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?I always like to see a link between executive plans and all employee plans wherever possible. Some countries like France and Australia link … 

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Published: 23 March 2018

Anna Watch of BT, head of executive share plansIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?I think one of the primary purposes employee share ownership serves is employee engagement. Through share ownership employees become far more interested and engaged in the success of the company, helping them to strive to help support that success.It also helps employees engage with one another and therefore has a positive impact on the workforce.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Continued use of the suite of … 

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Published: 21 February 2018

Lynette Jacobs of Pinsent Masons, partner, head of share plans and incentivesIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?By motivating and incentivising employees, building an identity with the company/group for which they work.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?“Share the message” – from employers and also employee participants who can testify to the positive effects it has had for/on them.What would you tell someone on the fence about introducing employee share ownership to their company?As above, speak … 

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Published: 17 January 2018

Gavin Oldham is chairman of Share plc and The Share Centre.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It builds a sense of participation and partnership within a business, encouraging alignment between employees, management and external shareowners. Since responsibility and ownership are closely linked, it also leads to a more mature, business-focused society less prone to damaging swings in political sentiment, and it enables a positive and more egalitarian attitude to economic growth.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?By letting employees take the initiative in setting … 

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Published: 18 December 2017

Stephen Woodhouse is a partner at Pett FranklinIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Owning shares in your employer creates a sense of joint interest. It makes people owners and allows a form of partnership for all employee shareholders and the wider investor group.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?There are a number of ways:Banging the drum consistently about the benefits of employee ownership. The work of Malcolm and the Esop Centre is an exemplar of this through constant campaigning and lobbying, but all … 

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Published: 22 November 2017

John D. Menke is President of Menke & AssociatesIn what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Employee share ownership serves many useful purposes. For employees, it provides financial security, a sense of personal worth, and an additional form of retirement savings. For owners, it provides a way to retire and sell their businesses without having to sell them to larger companies who may downsize them or move them elsewhere or even abroad. For the economy, it helps to perpetuate locally-owned business and increase employee productivity and company profitability. From a political standpoint, employee share ownership … 

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Published: 24 October 2017

Claudia Yañez is director of Executive Pay and Equity Compensation at SunPower.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Share ownership provides a means for employees to share in the rewards (via share price appreciation) that come from an organization delivering on its mission – whatever that might be. At SunPower, we have a very ambitious mission, to change how our world is powered. Sharing in the rewards of making that happen is a strong incentive for employees and provides economic well-being and empowerment.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of … 

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Published: 29 August 2017

Sarah Anderson is a director at the RM2 Partnership and author of Employee Share Schemes for Private Companies.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?I believe that one of the most important functions of employee share ownership is to forge a strong link between business owners and their employees, thus narrowing the divide between “us and them” that can otherwise exist. If everyone in the business is working towards a shared goal, this pays dividends (literally!) – in terms of individual reward, company growth and profitability and, ultimately, the wider economy.Individual reward, … 

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Published: 19 July 2017

Elaine Graham is a director and head of employer solutions at Zedra.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It has many useful purposes but to highlight a few, I would include the alignment of the goals of a company and its employee base. Employees feel that by owning a part of the company they are motivated to add value to it through their endeavours. Sharing in the financial success of a company compounds this effect.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Making the set up and … 

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Published: 19 June 2017

Robert Head is the director of Neo Reward.Robert has worked in human resources, compensation and reward in one way or another for most of his professional career. Robert works with organisations of all types as reward consultant or interim reward professional providing reward solutions, interim management and consultancy through his company, Neo Reward Limited. Until July 2015, Robert was director for executive reward and global share plans at Pearson plc, the world’s leading learning company, where he was responsible for the design and execution of total reward for the executive population and the delivery of globally competitive share … 

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Published: 19 May 2017

Paul Stoddart is an independent plan consultant.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Ownership stimulates a sense of responsibility and promotes focus. Owning company shares means being properly invested in the business that employs you, and therefore provides an opportunity to highlight a connection between what you do each day – and the reward for that effort – through a share plan. It can also serve to direct employee attention towards the factors that make the business more successful, such as sales performance and cost control. The outcome isn’t necessarily guaranteed – simply facilitating … 

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Published: 19 April 2017

Nigel Mason is a director of the RM2 Partnership.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It works on so many levels. For the individual employee, it’s about recognition, reward and status as an owner. At the team level, it fosters unity of purpose and greater collaboration. For the company as a whole, it improves performance and creates resilience, from which all shareholders benefit. And for society, it spreads wealth and gives people a stake in the economy and a voice at work.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and … 

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Published: 16 March 2017

Veronique Japp is global equity compensation and mobility compliance for HIS Markit.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?A lot is said about the purpose employee share ownership: retention, motivation, alignment of interests, employee engagement and so on.The one that stands out to me is how overall it has been established through extensive and various research and indexes that businesses with employee equity ownership schemes are, put quite simply, doing better and are more productive than those that don’t.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?<p … 

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Published: 16 January 2017

Steve Meiklejohn is a partner at Ogier.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It’s a fantastic way to secure loyalty and motivate employees.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?We need to change the mood music around this subject. There’s too much negativity at the moment because of Inland Revenue focus of past few years.What would you tell someone on the fence about introducing employee share ownership to their company?If you work from the principle that the benefits to be obtained in terms of … 

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Published: 16 December 2016

John Hunter is the chairman of the UK Shareholders’ Association.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It encourages teamwork and all the benefits that brings – particularly in large organisations where the bottom can seem remote from the top – by providing a single measure of achievement to which the whole organisation can relate.That applies to all except those who can directly influence the measure in the short term – i.e. the directors and senior investor relations staff and a few very senior managers. In them it encourages short-termism and the pursuit of … 

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Published: 15 November 2016

Mike Smith is head of corporate executive and employee trading at Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Employee share ownership is a very valuable tool for managers to ensure all employees are aligned with shareholders, knowing that by executing their role to the best of their ability, they’ll contribute to the overall success of the firm. It’s quite simply a win win scenario by rewarding employee loyalty and hard work with all stakeholders.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?At a Centre … 

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Published: 16 October 2016

Catherine Gannon is the managing partner of Gannons.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Statistics show that the companies which introduce share schemes outperform companies that do not. That is growth right there. 99.3% of the British economy is driven by small private companies that need all the support they can get to succeed and thrive. Employee ownership helps to achieve their success. Employee share ownership promotes a culture of employee commitment, loyalty and sharing which is something the British public seems to have forgotten over the past decade and which is needed to … 

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Published: 16 September 2016

Fred Hackworth is the international director of The Esop Centre.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Eso helps create a more inclusive society and encourages employees to think more about why they are there and less about clock-watching. Involvement in Eso gives participants an on-going seminar about what shares are, how their value can oscillate and the advantages of long-term ownership.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Reform the secondary education system to make lessons in basic household economics obligatory – what a bank account is … 

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Published: 16 August 2016

Helen Hatton is MD of Sator Regulatory Consulting Limited and chairman KYC Worldwide Lmited.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Although tax efficiency is increasingly a motivating factor for businesses participating in or establishing structures, I am a true believer in the social engineering objectives of employee share ownership. I completely believe that widening the ownership of British businesses – or indeed those in other countries – offers more sustainable engagement of the workforce, stronger longer lasting relationships based on mutuality rather than the conflict model all too often driven by the trades union … 

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Published: 16 July 2016

Ann Tyler is an associate of Mutuo and a trustee of Voice at Be Caring.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Employee Ownership has been shown to have a hugely significant effect on the economy, promoting a culture of inclusive capitalism. Employee owned companies are more productive, have more successful rates of recruitment and retention, and employees who are both happier and healthier. Successful employee owned companies usually have a democratic governance structure and a programme of employee engagement which leads to a more open and participative workplace.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use … 

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Published: 15 June 2016

Jonathan Fletcher Rogers is head of employee incentives group at Addleshaw Goddard.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Simply being able to say to employees that they own part of the business is a very powerful message on its own. However, share ownership can have an even greater impact where it is used to maximise employee engagement. Research has shown how employee engagement can create a virtuous circle where positive attitudes flow through to employee behaviour and productivity, which can then be used to reinforce those attitudes. Employee share ownership, along with an effective communications strategy which … 

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Published: 15 May 2016

Corey Rosen is the founder of the National Center for Employee Ownership.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Employee ownership provides a way to create a more equitable, effective economy. Returns to capital have dwarfed anaemic growth in wages for 40 years, creating a have/have not society. Sharing ownership addresses this problem in a way that uses, rather than constrains, the free enterprise system. When combined with effective employee engagement programs, it also creates more productive companies.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Existing tax incentives in the U.S. are impressive; … 

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Published: 15 March 2016

Pat Sims is manager employee share plans and share registration at BT plc.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?On a participant level, via an employee share plans it provides easy access to wealth creation. In low income countries it provides a way of accessing foreign currency. For employers I hope share ownership improves engagement and loyalty, but will we ever know that for sure?How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Outside the UK, the SAYE share plan approach does potentially many things, but increasing share ownership usually isn’t one of … 

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Published: 15 February 2016

Mike Kemsley is Hon. Treasurer at Broad Street Ward Club and treasurer/trustee at EnhanceAble/Geneva Road Ltd.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It signals commitment in two directions – from a company to its employees and vice-versa;It encourages employees to think and act as business people and develop the ‘hidden entrepreneur’.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Financial education for one thing; there’s too little knowledge outside the advisor community. Corporation tax breaks to help companies become employee owned.Encourage banks to become more interested … 

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Published: 15 January 2016

William Franklin is a chartered accountant and share scheme adviser, and partner and founder of Pett, Franklin &amp; Co LLP.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It can help to bridge the divide between labour and capital and encourage more productive and equitable businesses and societiesHow can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?We need to encourage share schemes among smaller UK listed companies and private equity backed companies.What would you tell someone who is ‘on the fence’ about introducing employee share ownership to their company?<p … 

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Published: 15 December 2015

Graeme Nuttall OBE is a partner in the Fieldfisher tax and structuring group and head of Fieldfisher&#x27;s Employee Ownership and Mutualisation team. Also, as the UK Government&#x27;s independent adviser on employee ownership, author of the Nuttall Review of Employee Ownership.In what ways does employee share ownership (ESO) serve a useful purpose?ESO, even through an all-employee plan, is often mainly about financial participation. This helps achieve the combined goals of better business performance and happier staff. But my belief is that this &quot;win-win&quot; situation is best secured through employee ownership (EO). This means a significant and meaningful stake … 

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Published: 15 November 2015

Justin Cooper is the Chief Executive Officer of Shareholder Solutions at Link Asset Services.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Having worked in the share plans world for approaching 30 years now, the obvious answer is ‘aligning the needs of the shareholder and the employee’. In simple terms, I see this as giving an employee a vested interest in the business that they work for. Never a bad thing.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?I think the big challenge we have nowadays is simple apathy. Employee share ownership is so … 

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Published: 15 October 2015

Colin Kendon is head of employee incentives and benefits at Bird &amp; Bird.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?At its most effective employee share ownership gives employees an interest in the financial performance of their employer, it makes them think like owners and it improves productivity.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?By introducing all-employee plans that do not require low-paid employees to fork out cash until they are in a position to fund it through share sales. For example: CSOPs operated on an all-employee … 

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Published: 15 September 2015

Rasmus, senior counsel at Macfarlanes and member of the Centre’s Steering Committee.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?Share plans enable employees to feel they can make a real contribution towards and share in the success of the business they work in.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?By telling the stories and sharing the experiences. Share plan participation is a highly valued benefit to employees and employers need to know that.What is the greatest obstacle to wider and deeper employee share ownership?The cost … 

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Published: 15 August 2015

Patrick recently left The Investment Association after a career of over 15 years and is currently an Independent specialist on executive remuneration issues.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It helps employees to feel they have a sense of purpose at their place of work and to be motivated to succeed. In short, it provides an ownership factor that employees are committed to an enterprise and feel loyal to it.How can we widen and deepen the adoption and use of employee share ownership?Effective political lobbying is a key to securing improved tax … 

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Published: 15 July 2015

Isobel Evans is a director in human capital at EY.Why did you enter your current profession?It is intellectually rewarding and I feel that I can directly impact and benefit all employees across an organisation from key executives to broad-based employees. As an employee share schemes solicitor, I advise a diverse range of clients both in the UK and globally on a broad spectrum of share scheme and related remuneration matters, ranging from ongoing operational guidance to transactional assistance.What are the best features of your job?The people! Working at EY offers the opportunity to work alongside … 

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Published: 15 June 2015

Alex Beidas is a newly elected employment and incentives partner at Linklaters.Why did you enter your current profession?I became an Incentives lawyer so I could get involved in a wide range of issues – corporate governance, financial regulation, employment law, tax, trusts law etc. It keeps my mind busy and I enjoy the human aspect.What are the best features of your job?Being part of an energetic team of enquiring minds who keep me on my toes. Since becoming a partner it’s the added responsibility, particularly having influence over the strategic direction of the team.In … 

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Published: 15 April 2015

Graham Rowlands-Hempel is a consultant specialising in employee share plans and executive incentives.Why did you enter your current profession?I was taught A Level law by a retired judge. He told us some amazing stories which got me hooked. Originally I was a tax lawyer. It was at a time when share plans were just starting. It was an exciting new area full of promise and I thought it would offer me the best future.What are the best features of your job?Many years ago I put in place an SAYE on the flotation of a company’s … 

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Published: 15 March 2015

Why did you start working at Deloitte?I saw an exciting opportunity to create an offering that hadn’t been fully developed. Bear in mind that when I started working in the employee share plan field around 1990 no one would have known what you meant if you said you were a ‘share plan practitioner’. They do now!What are the best features of your job?The people I work with, the huge variety of work, and the intellectual challenge.In what ways does employee share ownership serve a useful purpose?It helps employees to relate with their companies, engage … 

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