Small team,
Big peace of mind
Chris Welsford
(He/Him)
Founder & Managing Director
Investment Manager & Financial Planner
BSc Hons, Chartered MSCI
Advisor
Max Leslie
(He/Him)
New Business Development
MA Hons, MSc, ACSI, MLIBF, CeMAP Diploma, CeRER, CPSP
Admin
Wendy Welsford
(She/Her)
Founder & Office Manager
BSc Hons, Chartered MSCI
Admin
Ell Welsford
(She/They)
Responsible Investment Research Analyst
BA Hons
Admin
Thea Welsford
(-/-)
Design & Marketing Consultant
BA Hons
Admin
Meet
Chris Welsford
(He/Him)
At his core, Chris is driven by a simple purpose: helping people
He is at his best when supporting individuals & organisations who may lack the means, knowledge or confidence to fully protect themselves, with a particular focus on complex financial & personal circumstances
With 30+ years of experience in financial services & more than 20 years with the Coastguard, Chris has spent much of his life helping people navigate difficult situations - protecting livelihoods, securing financial futures, and quite literally saving lives when travellers have strayed too close to the cliff edge
Chris has always put his family first. That same instinct carries into everything he does: he will not rest until the people he cares about are properly looked after, suitably protected, and out of harm's way
Chartered MCSI
Meet
Max Leslie
(He/Him)
Max joined Ayres Punchard at the start of his career in financial services, following a MSc in Food Security
Max is the new lifeblood for Ayres Punchard. As Max quotes: "If I have seen further than others, than it is by standing on the shoulders of giants". It is Chris's shoulders he now (not literally!) stands on as he drives for new business development at the firm.
He is committed to helping clients from all backgrounds with their financial planning needs & working to close the financial advice gap in the UK
In his free time (when he can find it), Max enjoys gardening, cooking, and adventures across the stunning Scottish landscapes that he calls home
ACSI, MLIBF, CeMAP Diploma, CeRER, CPSP
New Business Development
Highly qualified in mortgage advice
Specialist Property Finance Expert
Wendy Welsford (She/Her)
(She/Her)
Founder & Office Manager
Wendy is a graduate of London’s Southbank Polytechnic (1986) with a BSc Hons in the Social Sciences.
She spent most of her working life in the Library Service and was a school librarian until 2009, when she decided to join Chris in the business as his personal assistant and office manager.
Wendy is responsible for the smooth running of the Ayres Punchard back-office administration systems. She works closely with the company accountant, monitoring costs and budgets.
She is also the driving force behind the company’s recycling and environmental policies, which have resulted in 100% of our office waste being either recycled or composted.
She also managed the sourcing and installation of our photovoltaic solar electric generating system, which means that almost 100% of our office electricity is generated by renewable energy.
Ell Welsford
(She/They)
Responsible Investment Research Analyst
Ell is a graduate of University College London (2021) with a first-class BA Hons in History.
Ell designed and runs the Key to the Future research project that we use to help us engage with our selected fund managers. Their work helps us to evaluate the impact of our portfolios through an analysis of the underlying holdings.
In 2023, Ell managed the company’s successful bid to become a B Corp.
They have written a number of thought papers on issues associated with sustainable investment.
Thea Welsford
(She/Her)
Design & Marketing Consultant
Thea is a graduate of the University of the Arts London, Camberwell (2013), with a 2:1 BA Hons in Graphic Design.
She was responsible for the modern development of the company logo and branding, including the graphics for this website. Thea built on the original designs of iconic graphic designer John Williams, who designed the company’s brand image in 1995, having previously designed campaigns for major brands such as M&S and Boots.
Thea provides her services to Ayres Punchard on an ad hoc basis. She runs a freelance graphic design business, AdaMay.
Thea is also a founding member of The Ventnor Fringe Festival and remains involved with this amazing organisation. In July 2023, one of her other clients, Beau’s Gelato, paid her a great tribute when they interviewed her for their website.
