SquareBook, the FCA regulated firm offering a transparent, fair and automated way to IPO in modern markets, today announced the appointment of two senior executives to their management team. Senior Banker Barry Wingate joins as Director and will be responsible for helping corporates and their advisors find the most suitable investors by using the SquareBook platform to manage the Initial Public Offering (IPO) process. Fred Huibers, a leading authority on primary market issuance, joins as Advisor, working with issuers to design an auction that works best for their firms.

The appointments follow SquareBook’s FCA approval in June 2019 to bring innovation and competition to the IPO process and pave the way to unbundling equity primary markets. SquareBook provides innovative new services in the IPO process to benefit firms looking to go public and is specifically designed to remove the conflicts of interest inherent in the current book building process. 

Prior to joining SquareBook, Barry Wingate spent over 20 years in investment banking and financial markets. He led the coverage of the energy services sector within HSBC’s Global Banking division before working with Buckthorn Partners on private equity transactions. Barry’s experience in high profile M&A and capital markets transactions means he has a wealth of connections amongst financial intermediaries, sponsors and corporates.

Renowned fund manager and academic Fred Huibers brings more than 30 years’ experience in corporate finance and investment to SquareBook. Previously, he was Head of Asset Management at Rabobank before he moved to ING, where he was responsible for international Equity Capital Market activities. Most recently, Fred entered academia as Associate Professor of Corporate Finance and Fintech at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. He is one of the world’s leading authorities on primary market issuance and continues to carry out ground-breaking research in this field.

Joe Sluys, CEO of SquareBook, said: “We are very excited to welcome Fred and Barry to the team. Fred’s experience as one of the leading authorities on primary market issuance and Barry’s background in high profile M&A and capital markets transactions are invaluable to implementing our vision to bring much-needed transparency and automation to the IPO market.”

Barry Wingate added: “The opportunity to take a leading role in de-mystifying the IPO process so that it appeals to 21st century growth companies and their investors is really exciting. I am convinced that SquareBook has a unique approach that will empower issuers and investors by unbundling the IPO process.”

Fred Huibers added: “This is an opportunity to re-vitalise an outmoded IPO process that is restricting access and the efficient allocation of capital. Aligning the interests of issuers and investors in the capital market will bring substantial benefits in innovation and new jobs.”