Rathbones has secured a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) licence from the Central Bank of Ireland, enabling it to build a presence within the European Union in a move that strengthens the wealth and investment firm’s international capabilities.
The new licence supports the firm’s long-term growth ambitions as it seeks to expand its international client base.
Rathbones Ireland is led by managing director Dolores Geaney, who joined the group in April to launch and develop its European business. The appointment followed research published in February, which showed the increased mobility of business owners.
The analysis found that nearly 6,000 entrepreneurs had left the UK between 2024 and 2026, with more than 3,000 coming to the UK in the same period.
Camilla Stowell, chief executive officer of wealth at Rathbones, said: “People’s lives no longer fit neatly within national borders. Careers, families, businesses and investments increasingly span several countries – and wealth management has to move with them.
“Securing our Irish licence is therefore central to what we do. It gives Rathbones a firm base from which to support clients in Ireland and across the EU, combining local presence with the investment expertise, financial planning and personal relationships of the wider Group. Our ambition is to help clients make confident long-term decisions as their lives and wealth move across borders.”
Geaney said: “Ireland is a natural home for Rathbones’ European business: an internationally connected market with deep financial expertise and strong links across the EU. Our focus now is to build a distinctive, client-led business from Dublin – working with clients, advisers and partners who need thoughtful investment management and long-term support across increasingly international lives.
“We have the opportunity to combine local knowledge with the strength of the wider Rathbones Group, while building the trusted relationships for which the firm is known.”
