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Hilltop Walk Consulting Confirms FICC Markets Standards Board as a Client

Hilltop Walk Consulting is pleased to confirm FICC Markets Standards Board (FMSB) as the first client of this new financial markets consultancy firm specialising in market conduct, strategy, technology and change. Hilltop Walk Consulting will be working with FMSB and its members to develop market Standards, Statements of Good Practice and Spotlight Reviews, in support of FMSB’s mission to ensure that wholesale FICC markets are transparent, fair and effective for all participants.

Allan Guild, founder & Director of Hilltop Walk Consulting, said: “I am excited to partner with FMSB and look forward to supporting them in their strategic goals. I can think of no better first client for Hilltop Walk Consulting than a member organisation with the standing of FMSB and we are delighted to be working with them to help them pursue their goal to raise standards of conduct in global FICC markets”

I can think of no better first client for Hilltop Walk Consulting than a member organisation with the standing of FMSB.

Allan Guild, Director of Hilltop Walk Consulting

Martin Pluves, CEO of FMSB, said: “FMSB is delighted to appoint Hilltop Walk Consulting and to engage Allan Guild as an advisor on regulatory trading protocols and transparency in OTC markets. The relevance and extent of Allan’s experience in financial markets is well aligned to support the goals of FMSB and our members. We look forward to working with Hilltop Walk Consulting as we collectively undertake to develop Standards, Statements of Good Practice and Spotlight Reviews, to improve transparency in trading practices, and strengthen trust in global wholesale FICC markets by raising overall standards of conduct.”

The relevance and extent of Allan’s experience in financial markets is well aligned to support the goals of FMSB and our members.

Martin Pluves, CEO of FMSB

About Hilltop Walk Consulting:

Founded in August 2020 by Allan Guild, Hilltop Walk Consulting delivers innovative solutions to clients, and helps develop procedures and market guidelines to navigate changing market conditions and raise the standards of conduct among all market participants. Having previously worked for Goldman Sachs and HSBC for over 15 years, Allan has worked extensively in financial markets and participated in the development of the FX Global Code with HSBC and the Bank of England. With the intention to use his experience and knowledge of financial markets, he started Hilltop Walk Consulting to support clients in guiding their businesses through a changing market environment and developing guidelines to promote market conduct.

The company’s mission is to ‘Partner, Solve & Inform’, and foster a collaborative environment to conduct their business. Through comprehensive communication across relevant stakeholders, the company provides high-quality solutions with a culture of transparency, trust and accountability.

About FICC Markets Standards Board (FMSB):

The Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities Markets Standards Board (‘FMSB’) is practitioner led, funded by members and operated by the major participants in wholesale fixed income, currencies and commodities (FICC) markets to improve standards of conduct in those markets. It aims to bring transparency to grey areas in the wholesale FICC markets by identifying emerging vulnerabilities, clarifying and documenting practice and agreeing standards to improve conduct and market behaviour. Ensuring that wholesale FICC markets are transparent, fair and effective for all participants is at the heart of FMSB’s mission.

Hilltop Walk Consulting

I am delighted to be able to share that today, Hilltop Walk Consulting has opened its doors for business.

It has been a bit of a leap of faith to start a new business in the midst of a global pandemic, and I am grateful for the support of friends and family, and in particular the clients and prospective clients who have, over the past several months, helped to shape the business.

The focus now is on clients and helping them to grow their businesses

I have been fortunate to have spent 15 years working for two great investment banks in Goldman Sachs and HSBC, and to have had the opportunity to perform so many different roles in running electronic businesses, technology and operations teams and different change programmes.

I hope that I can now use those experiences to build a successful consulting business and to help the clients of Hilltop Walk Consulting achieve their goals.