Goal Group, the global leader in withholding tax reclamation and securities class action recovery services, has announced the appointment of Simon Cleary as a consultant covering Asia for its APAC region. He will be based in Singapore and report to Selvie Shaqiri, Managing Director, APAC.

With more than 35 years’ securities services experience, Simon has held multiple leadership roles in the UK, Luxembourg and Singapore, most recently at Standard Chartered Bank as Managing Director, Head of Regional Operations in Securities Services ASEAN & South Asia, and COO and Global Head of Product for Custody and Clearing. Previously he held roles at Brown Brothers Harriman, SWIFT, Citi, Bank of New York and Chase Manhattan Bank. 

Simon is a British citizen and has been living in Singapore for more than a decade. He was recognised by Global Custodian Magazine in 2009 as a ‘Legend of Securities Services’ for his ‘outstanding contribution to the securities services industry’. 

Selvie Shaqiri, Managing Director of APAC, said: “As the market leader in each of our fields and a thriving fintech entering an exciting new phase of growth, we are continually seeking to strengthen our team across the Asia Pacific region. I’m thrilled that Simon is joining us to extend our work in helping clients understand and carry out their fiduciary duties to the highest possible standards. With his depth of experience and global markets exposure, I’m confident that he will be a great asset to the business.” 

Commenting on his appointment, Simon Cleary, Consultant, APAC at Goal Group said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the Goal team in APAC and building on the great work they are undertaking for institutional investors across the region. Goal has an unparalleled track-record in helping clients fulfil their fiduciary duty to reclaim excess tax on cross-border income, and seek legal redress for investment losses. Both areas cost investors dearly if they are not performed fully and efficiently.” 

Thanks to its robust business continuity strategy and secure cloud-based systems, it has been ‘business as usual’ for Goal Group throughout the pandemic.  Indeed the company is processing its highest ever volumes of claim filings, monitoring in excess of £8 trillion in client assets worldwide and recording record revenues.

Selvie Shaqiri adds: “Both sides of our business are seeing strong growth. Investors continue to become more engaged, more aware of their rights and their dues, and more willing to push for change. Securities litigation and financial instruments are becoming ever-more complex, leading many institutions who previously managed participation in-house to seek specialist support. We are ideally placed to help the investment community streamline current processes and reduce costs while navigating the evolving fiduciary, corporate governance and legal landscapes.”