William Barratt

Chairman

William graduated with a 2:1 in Business Studies. Prior to joining Barratt and Cooke he worked at Torrie and Co Stockbrokers (Edinburgh) and Charles Stanley (London), where he gained experience in operations, with positions in the PEP, ISA, dividend and transfer departments. He then moved to a dealing role before becoming an analyst and finally filled a position as an Assistant Investment Advisor. This wide spectrum of experience equipped him with useful tools before coming ‘home’ to the family business.

Within Barratt and Cooke, William has several roles including investment management and research responsibilities, in addition to being a Board Director and our Chairman. Outside of work commitments, William is a trustee of a grant making charity.

He is very proud of Barratt and Cooke’s heritage, where there has always been a premium placed on the overall quality of client experience, from both a performance and service perspective, features he endeavours to develop and grow daily.

Outside work, William enjoys participating in endurance events where he has swum the English Channel, cycled LE-JOG and won a boxing match, though he firmly believes his greatest achievement was in ‘failure’ in his Arch (Marble) to Arc (de Triomphe) attempt. “You learn so much more about yourself in defeat than in victory”, a narrative he applies to his work. He is lucky to be married to Hannah and they have three children who he enjoys watching play hockey, cricket and netball.

Sam Barratt

Chief Executive Officer

Sam joined the family firm in 2009, initially working within the dealing team. In 2011, he moved into management of the firm’s operations, before becoming our Compliance Director in 2012 and Chief Executive Officer in 2015.

Prior to returning to Norfolk, Sam began his career in London, gaining experience at UBS Wealth Management before working at Close Brothers Asset Management, in the settlement and dealing teams.

Sam graduated from Newcastle University in 2004 with a degree in Business and Agriculture. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and, outside of work commitments, Sam is a trustee of three grant making charities.

Sam is married with three children, which keeps him busy, and he enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

William Mellor

Investment Director

Will joined Barratt & Cooke in January 2003 after graduating from the University of Bath with a degree in Economics. In 2012 Will was appointed as our Investment Director and joined the Board of Barratt & Cooke in April 2014. Will is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

As Investment Director Will has overall responsibility for our investment policy and manages client portfolios with a particular emphasis on charities, high net worth individuals and pension funds.

Outside of work commitments, Will enjoys playing golf, is a Patron of Norwich-based mental health charity Eating Matters and is a trustee of two grant making charities.

Miles Piercy

Director

Miles has worked in financial markets for his entire career and has been a member of the Barratt & Cooke team for over 25 years, holding management positions since 2008, and joining the board as a director in 2015.

Prior to joining the firm, Miles began his career in 1994, with Waters Lunniss & Co Ltd. Miles is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

His experience encompasses dealing, equity and macro research, investment management, risk, and operations, which has given him a deep knowledge of the industry and our firm. As a director, Miles is involved in all aspects of management of the business.

Miles is married with three daughters and enjoys spending his spare time with his family, cycling, or enjoying the outdoors with his spaniel.

Shaira Bale

Investment Manager's Assistant

Shaira joined Barratt & Cooke in 2022 as an Investment Manager’s Assistant. She works closely with William Barratt, William Mellor, Edward Sidgwick and Harry Dodds, and is currently studying towards obtaining the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments’ Chartered Wealth Manager qualification, whilst training to be one of our Investment Managers. Shaira is also a member of the Barratt & Cooke charity committee.

Shaira graduated from the University of Southampton, in 2018, with an Economics and Finance degree. She started her professional career in Private Banking at Lloyds Banking Group, developing her core knowledge of portfolio management before joining Barratt & Cooke.

Shaira enjoys spending time with her family and friends, exploring the best beaches on the Norfolk and Suffolk coast, having recently moved to Norwich.

Ashley Baxter

Research Analyst

After graduating with a first-class honours degree in Business & Financial Management, Ashley joined Barratt & Cooke in 2014 as a trainee research analyst. He completed his professional exams in 2017 and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Ashley is responsible for our internal equity research and has developed a broad research experience with a specialist focus on company analysis. His role involves undertaking analysis of company financials, engaging with management teams, attending events of the companies we invest in and, ultimately, assisting the wider investment team with investment decisions.

Ashley is married with two young children and enjoys spending his time outside of work with his family or playing sport, mainly football, which he still plays competitively.

Kathy Burrell

Accounts Manager

Kathy is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) who trained and qualified with KPMG before transferring to Grant Thornton in 2000. Whilst at Grant Thornton, Kathy reached senior manager level and was also responsible for running the Audit Department.

Kathy moved from practice to industry in 2011, where she worked for eight years before joining Barratt & Cooke as Accounts Manager in January 2020. Together with Tim Parker, Kathy is jointly in charge of the day to day running of our accounts department which, among other things, oversees the movement of all client money into and out of the firm. Kathy also sits on the Barratt & Cooke charity committee.

Away from the office, Kathy enjoys spending time with her family and baking.

Nicholas Burrows

Investment Manager

Nicholas joined Barratt & Cooke as a graduate trainee in 2019 and has been an investment manager since 2022. Nicholas has a master’s degree in economics from the University of East Anglia and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Nicholas began his career assisting with client-related matters within our Trusts team, giving him a thorough knowledge of markets, trusts and the firm as a whole. As an investment manager, Nicholas works closely with Alastair Jackson and is now responsible for day-to-day management of client portfolios, with a particular focus on private clients and trusts. Nicholas is also responsible for oversight of ESG collective investments and assists with fixed income investment research.

Nicholas lives in Norwich with his wife and enjoys playing piano and spending time outdoors in his spare time.

Nathan Corden

Dealer

Nathan joined Barratt and Cooke in January 2022 as a trainee dealer and has since become an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. Before joining the firm, he began his career at Marsh Insurance Brokers after graduating from De Montfort University with a 2:1 in Economics and Finance.

As a member of our dealing team, Nathan executes client orders in both global equity and bond markets.

Nathan’s weekends are usually spent playing and coaching Hockey.

Hudson de Lucchi

Graduate Research Analyst

After graduating with a 2:1 degree in Business, Economics and Finance at Loughborough university, Hudson joined Barratt & Cooke in 2023 as a Graduate Research Analyst. He collaborates closely with Ashley Baxter, Edward Sidgwick, Harry Dodds, and William Mellor, providing analytical support for investment recommendations and continuous updates on existing investments.

In addition to his role, Hudson has passed the Capital Markets Programme certification and is currently studying for the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments qualifications as part of his ongoing professional development.

Outside of the office, Hudson embraces his passion for sports, devoting the majority of his weekends to cricket, where he proudly represented Norfolk's first XI, and he also enjoys rugby during the winter season.

Martin Dack

Custody Operations Manager

Following his graduating from the University of East Anglia, with a degree in Business, Finance & Economics, Martin joined Barratt & Cooke in 2008. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Martin has significant knowledge of the firm, which he developed through working within our dealing team for over a decade. More recently, Martin has transitioned to operations, where today he oversees safe custody and reconciliations.

Martin’s interests include football, gardening, art & antiques, and following the ups and downs of the stockmarket.

Harry Dodds

Investment Manager

Harry joined Barratt & Cooke in 2019, having begun his career with an independent financial advice firm, where he obtained his initial investment management exams. Prior to this, Harry graduated from the University of Nottingham with a degree in Industrial Economics and Insurance. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments.

After joining Barratt & Cooke, Harry completed his investment management exams, winning two regional awards in the process; he also holds the certificate in Sustainable and Responsible Investment. He is a member of our investment management team, and his responsibilities include managing portfolios for private clients, pensions, and charities. Harry works closely with William Barratt, William Mellor and Edward Sidgwick, whilst also sitting on the Barratt & Cooke charity committee.

Out of the office, Harry is a keen sportsman. Whilst rugby was his first passion, Harry is now more focussed on games of cricket and golf when the opportunities arise.

Virginia Edgecombe

Non-Executive Director (Holdings Ltd)

Virginia is a solicitor and consultant at Mills & Reeve LLP. She is a member of the Barratt & Cooke Holdings Limited board.

She has 20 years experience of advising a wide range of private clients on issues relating to asset protection, succession and philanthropy. She spent the first 10 years of her career working for a law firm in the City of London returning home to East Anglia in 2003.

She is a trustee of a number of local charities and has held numerous other voluntary roles within the community.

Rachael Everett

ISA & Custody Manager

Rachael has been a member of the Barratt & Cooke team for almost 30 years, joining in 1994 as an office junior. She has significant experience and expertise across client custody and administrative processes and is now involved with management of our ISA and custody departments.

Rachael is married with two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, walking, cycling, and taking trips away in her touring caravan, especially spending time at the Norfolk coast.

Sarah Hill

Investment Manager's Assistant

Sarah joined Barratt & Cooke in 2017 and provides administrative support to Sam Matthews, William Whitmore, Charles Temple-Richards and Paul Pearce. Prior to joining the firm, she had previous PA role experience with both Aviva and Mercer.

As a member of our investment management support team, Sarah works closely with all departments to ensure good communication takes place between teams, and to facilitate workloads. Sarah is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Sarah is married with a young daughter and is a keen traveller. She enjoys live music, reading, walking, and spending time with friends and family.

James Hunter

Non-Executive Director

James is a lawyer and partner at Mills & Reeve LLP, where he is also head of that firm’s national corporate practice. He advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring and a full range of company law and governance matters. 

James lives in Norfolk and is also a Governor of Norwich School.

Alastair Jackson

Associate Director

Alastair joined Barratt and Cooke in 2008 after graduating from the University of York with a degree in Economics. He started his career in the dealing department before joining the investment management team in 2012. Alastair is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and became an Associate Director in October 2020.

Within our investment management team, Alastair works closely with Nicholas Burrows, focusing on the management of trust portfolios and assisting legal representatives and beneficiaries with the distribution of estates. Alongside his involvement with trusts, Alastair also manages investments on behalf of private investors and charities.

Outside of work Alastair enjoys spending time with his young family, being in the Norfolk countryside and is an avid sports fan.

Katherine Koetsier

Investment Manager's Assistant

After graduating with a first-class honours degree in Economics with Accountancy, Katherine joined Barratt & Cooke in 2023 as an Investment Manager’s Assistant. She works closely with Sam Matthews, William Whitmore, Charlie Temple-Richards and Paul Pearce, assisting with a variety of client-related matters and developing the foundations on which to build a career.

Alongside her role, Katherine is studying towards her Capital Markets Programme certification and hopes to continue professional development with the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments’ thereafter. She has a keen interest in the environment and looking at progressive solutions to ESG matters, having tailored a large part of her degree towards investments and ESG topics.

Outside the office, Katherine is very involved with her church and often spends her weekends helping at community events there. She also enjoys the outdoors, going hiking and helping at her family’s smallholding.

Sam Matthews

Associate Director

Sam joined the Barratt & Cooke team in 2006 and became an Associate Director in 2018. Sam is a graduate of the University of Exeter and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

He spent his initial years with the firm in the dealing team, before joining the investment management team in 2010. He has significant experience constructing and managing equity focused, multi-asset portfolios for private clients, charities and trusts.

Sam works closely with William Whitmore, Charles Temple-Richards and Paul Pearce, whilst also co-managing our WS Opie Street Funds offering with Edward Sidgwick. He is responsible for fixed income research and chairs the Barratt & Cooke charity committee.

Sam is married with two children and in his spare time enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.

Timothy Parker

Accounts Manager

Tim joined the accounts department of Barratt & Cooke in 2000 after gaining a decade of practice experience. Having started his career with KPMG in 1989, he qualified in 1993. During his ten years in practice, Tim prepared accounts and ran the audits of companies in a variety of business sectors. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA).

As one of our accounts managers, Tim jointly oversees the accounts department and all aspects of safeguarding and reconciling client money, in addition to being involved in the preparation of the firm’s statutory accounts and financial reporting.

Outside of work, Tim has been a Norwich City season ticket holder for over 25 years and enjoys cycling.

Sebastian Payne-Smith

Dealer

Seb joined our dealing team in 2021 as a trainee. Since then, he has undertaken his introductory exams, becoming an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

In his role as a dealer, Seb executes trades across a wide range of global equity and bond markets, for both our managed and execution-only clients.

In his spare time Seb enjoys practicing Brazilian Jui Jitsu and learning the Norwegian language.

Bethany Piercy

Investment Manager's Assistant

Having graduated from the University of Liverpool with a first-class honours degree in BSc Geography, Bethany worked as an Environmental Consultant, specialising in due diligence, before joining Barratt & Cooke as an Investment Manager’s Assistant in 2024.

She now works closely with Alastair Jackson and Nicholas Burrows, supporting the administration of client accounts and building her knowledge of portfolio management whilst studying towards the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investments’ Wealth Management qualification as part of her training to become an Investment Manager.

In her spare time, Bethany loves to travel and explore new places; whilst her weekends are usually spent playing tennis and enjoying the outdoors.

Paul Pearce

Senior Investment Manager

Paul is an experienced investment manager, having looked after portfolios for individuals, trusts, pensions and charities for over 35 years. He is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Paul began his career with Barclays in 1987, achieving the Securities Institute Diploma in 1999. He joins most recently from Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management, having spent the last two decades in Norfolk. He works alongside William Whitmore, Charlie Temple-Richards and Sam Matthews, managing portfolios for individuals, trusts and pensions.

Paul is married, has four grown up children and enjoys spending the weekends exploring the Norfolk countryside on two feet or two wheels with Amy.

Ryan Roberts

Senior Dealer

Ryan joined Barratt & Cooke in 2014 after graduating from the University of Lincoln with a degree in International Relations and Politics. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Since joining the firm Ryan has been a member of our dealing team, becoming the senior dealer in 2022. He is responsible for the daily management of order flows and ensuring our client orders are efficiently executed across global equity and bond markets.

In his spare time, Ryan enjoys following Norwich City home and away or exploring the wilderness with his wife and their Utonagan.

Nigel Savory

Non-Executive Director

Nigel Savory is a non-executive director, having joined the board in 2018.

Nigel is a Chartered Accountant and currently is a non-executive Director sitting on a number of boards including The East Anglian Air Ambulance and Colleague Software. He also Chairman of Snellings Limited and Whitlingham Country Park.

He was previously managing partner of Grant Thornton’s offices in East Anglia where he specialised in providing assurance services to a portfolio of clients including Barratt & Cooke.

Edward Sidgwick

Associate Director

Edward joined Barratt & Cooke in 2011 having previously studied Economics at Durham University. His role is primarily focused on investment, including the co-management of the WS Opie Street Funds with Sam Matthews, as well as the management of portfolios on behalf of private clients, charities and corporate entities.

Edward works closely with William Barratt, Will Mellor and Harry Dodds, and leads our AIM portfolio service offering (for IHT planning purposes). Alongside his investment roles, Edward is an Associate Director with management responsibilities and a particular interest in helping to further develop the firm’s client offering. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

In his spare time, Edward enjoys the pleasures of the Norfolk countryside and coastline, is a keen oarsman and a grassroots hockey player.

Charles Temple-Richards

Senior Investment Manager

After obtaining a degree at Cambridge University and qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor, Charles joined the City in 1979, working for the Private Client departments of Scrimgeour Kemp Gee and then James Capel.

He moved back to his roots in Norfolk and joined Barratt & Cooke in 2001. Throughout he has looked after the portfolios of individuals, trusts, pension funds and charities. Charles works closely with Sam Matthews, William Whitmore and Paul Pearce, and has broad experience in equities, fixed interest and managed funds. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

He continues to be involved in farming and the countryside, spending time with his family pursuing interests in wildlife and forestry, whilst also enjoying cycling and sailing.

William Whitmore

Senior Investment Manager

After graduating with a 1st Class Honours degree in Accounting & Financial Management from Buckingham University, William worked at Price Waterhouse before starting his stockmarket career in 1985 on the floor of the London Stock Exchange with Morgan Grenfell. He gained further experience with Laing & Cruickshank and Union Bank of Switzerland before joining Barratt & Cooke in 1998.

William is an experienced member of the Barratt & Cooke team and works closely with Sam Matthews, Charles Temple-Richards and Paul Pearce. He manages discretionary portfolios on behalf of individuals, trusts, charities and pension fund clients, and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

William is married with two grown up children, enjoys travelling, hillwalking, and French food & wine.