Like so many in the industry, I and everyone at Platforum are devastated to hear about Paul Bradshaw’s sudden death this week. Paul had the vision to make platforms what they are today. That is why Platforum is devoting the Friday email to him by publishing tributes from some of the people who knew him best.
I have a deep personal fondness for Paul. He always had time to offer the history of the sector and the context of business strategy or regulation, and to challenge one’s thinking.
Paul was intellectually curious and excited by the possibilities of innovation and technology. He was brimming with ideas – not all good ones, by his own admission! I had the good fortune to profile Paul in Money Marketing a couple of months ago. It offers highlights of Paul’s career and attests to his fresh thinking and sharp mind.
If you’d like to add your tribute to those below, email them to us and we will add them to this blog.
Jeff Prestridge, Personal Finance Editor of The Mail on Sunday
Paul was a legend, a walking, breathing library of financial knowledge. An individual who was breathtakingly intelligent and who you could not meet without afterwards feeling better – and more informed – for the experience. What I also loved about Paul is that he was fun to be with. He was witty, had a great sense of humour and never took himself too seriously. A drink with him was time well spent. As a journalist, you are only as good as your contacts. Paul was a great contact and I was better for knowing him, tapping into his vast ocean of knowledge, and learning from the Great Man. God, I am going to miss him.
John Cowan, Executive Chairman Sesame Bankhall Group
Paul arrived at Scottish Amicable in the 1990s and had an immediate impact on all who worked closely with him. He was clear headed, focused, generous with his time and endlessly amusing. He had the gift of asking the difficult questions, which drew people up short and made them think deeply about their responses.
Mike Evans, Chairman of Hargreaves Lansdown
Paul had a superb intellect and I was honoured that he took me under his wing when I joined Skandia in 1986 and shaped the early stages of my career. He excelled in his intimate knowledge of the marketing and distribution of advice and solutions in financial services. We often shared thoroughly enjoyable Friday lunches in Hampshire as Chairmen of Nucleus and Hargreaves Lansdown respectively exchanging views and experiences in the marketplace. His deep understanding and robust sense of humour will be very sadly missed.
David Ferguson, Nucleus founder and CEO
Paul was amongst the very smartest people I have ever met. He was also the most driven and had the most extraordinary appetite for ‘what comes next’, which made him the ‘go to guy’ for an endless line of young entrepreneurs looking for direction. For Nucleus (and for me) he was a massive source of inspiration and a positive force for achievement and it is for us to ensure his legacy here is ultimately one of which he would be proud. Thank you, young man!
Holly Mackay, Founder and MD of Boring Money
I first met Paul back in 2005 when we both worked at Santander. He used to drag me downstairs when he went for a smoke to have a rant! Over the last 12 years, he has been my mentor, my friend, my (youthful) ‘Work Dad’ and most recently my shareholder and adviser. Paul was a smooth rebel in suit. He wasn’t happy to accept the status quo and has been a disrupter for years. He had a massive brain but, despite the obvious social affliction of being an actuary, he over-achieved here too and was the life and soul of the party and a great friend to many. Generous with his time, knowledge and counsel, he will be missed by many. Everyone liked him. Not many of us are irreplaceable but he really is. Love to Sheila and his family.
Peter Mann, Former CEO of Skandia and Former Vice Chairman of Old Mutual Wealth
We all have heroes. I have very few but Paul was one. A true visionary who changed so much of what we do and how we think but to me, and so many of us, a friend, a mentor and an inspirational guiding light. Our great industry is a poorer place today. His vision was clearly seen in the early days of the groundbreaking brand that was Skandia. I was honoured to represent that brand and Paul’s vision in my time as CEO.
Danby Bloch, Chairman of Helm Godfrey and non-executive director of Nucleus (2010-2016)
Paul was one of the wisest and most perceptive people I have worked with either in business or any other sphere. Those of us who worked with him will owe him much for his deep intelligence and humanity. The breadth and depth of his achievements are testament to his great ability to first identify and then inspire innovation, while still remaining grounded in business realities. He was a great man and we will miss him.
Jonathan Polin, Group Chief Executive of Sanlam
Throughout Paul’s long and distinguished career, he was consistently ahead of his time in his thinking and execution. His passion for the industry and advice was boundless. A man who guided us, supported us, challenged us and led us to make the right decisions. A towering light, who gave us his time, wisdom and fun. I am the lesser for his going.
Clive Waller, MD of CWC Research
More than most, I know how many wonderful, kind and generous people there are in this industry of ours. None fit this description better than Paul Bradshaw. His amazingly successful career covering so many different sides of the business is covered elsewhere on this page. I want to remember Paul as a truly generous friend and colleague, as he was to me over many years. Since my wife and business partner, Monica, died nearly two years ago, Paul has been my adviser, supporter, mentor and the best damned lunch partner anyone could ever have. I shall miss him, his friendship and his advice, terribly. I feel so for Paul’s beloved wife, Sheila and all my good wishes go to her and their family.
Clifton Melvin, Chairman of Gaudi Ltd and former CEO Winterthur Life
Such fond memories of our long, laughter-filled Spanish lunches, fuelled by a decent Rioja or a fresh Albariño, interspersed with the occasional Manzanilla. Adios amigo mio, oh how I wish it were hasta luego…
Keith Carby, Founding MD of J. Rothschild Assurance and Chairman of Foster Denovo and CAERUS Capital
The initial product proposition for J. Rothschild Assurance (and, therefore, credit for its success) was largely down to Paul. Not for nothing did we nickname him, “Numbers”. He was a brilliant actuary – but also so much, much more. He not only had an intellectual understanding of Distribution, Paul also had great empathy with Advisers. In all things, he was constructive and creative.
Serious and highly professional when appropriate, he was also a life-affirming and fun-loving companion in the Boardroom, over a meal, or in the bar. Despite all his many and significant achievements, family came first for Paul. Once, travelling back together from speaking at a conference in the North, we were trapped in the car – for seven hours! – behind a horrendous traffic jam on the M4. I can’t think of a better man with whom to have shared that experience, and so many more besides.
Rest in peace, Paul.
John Moret, Principal, MoretoSIPPs Consultancy
At this precise moment I was due to be meeting Paul for lunch –along with Mick Fordham – at a local hostelry in Romsey – close to where we all lived. We’d taken to meeting pretty regularly over the last few years – largely to hear of Paul’s latest ideas, investments or holidays. Those lunches were always interesting, fun and often inspirational – just like Paul. I’d got to know him well ever since he’d expressed an interest in buying PPML – the SIPP provider I was running –some 15 years ago. That didn’t happen – even though we joined forces for another attempt a few years later. But it led to an ongoing friendship which I treasured probably more than any other in the business world.
He was hugely helpful to me during my time when I was active in the world of SIPPs. In return occasionally he’d ask for my views on the SIPP market –and his own SIPP. He shared his early thoughts on the platform market with me – I still have a copy of one of his early business plans –and also have a copy of the Money Marketing article written in October 2003 about how “wraps will strengthen the value chain”. As usual several years ahead of most of the market because Paul was a true visionary. He even diversified into joining the local NHS trust board and probably found that one of the most challenging but ultimately rewarding ventures he’d undertaken.
I have modelled my glidepath into retirement on Paul’s version of what was recently termed “portfolio living”. It’s just a shame that he won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of all his endeavours which were so richly deserved. He and his wife Sheila had had a very tough 2016 but Paul was ever the optimist and ended a recent email with the words “tough road but we will get there”. It’s so very sad that even that was denied him. A real pioneer and an industry legend – and as the many other tributes have indicated – a genuine friend to so many in the industry. R.I.P Paul.
David Tasker, KPMG Business Development
I worked with Paul at the start up that was J Rothschild International Assurance back in 1993. We have stayed in touch since then and he always had time for me. I had lunch with him very recently and he was the funny, intelligent, joyful man I’d met almost a quarter of a century ago. I am truly saddened to hear of his passing. Paul Bradshaw was one of our industry’s true visionaries and I shall miss him sadly.
Tony Wickenden, Joint MD, Technical Connection
Irreplaceable is a sometimes misused word but it perfectly describes Paul. His intellect, vision, drive, humour and for me, over many years, his friendship and support, are all irreplaceable. In many things but especially in the way that he lived his life to the full in the best possible way, I hold Paul as my role model. That he is no longer with us is just so desperately sad. My thoughts are with Sheila and their family.
Mike Christophers, INED, Scottish Widows
As another Alumni of Nottingham University I watched Paul’s career with fascination and respect as he sailed through the actuarial exams and took on increasingly responsible and industry changing roles. I counted Paul as a very good friend who always had something interesting and challenging to say about the industry. He had both foresight and optimism which influenced many as friends, colleague and competitors. He will be greatly missed and my thoughts and condolences to Sheila and his family.