Richard Wheatley Managing Director, Corporate Advice Introduction and what your role is at EQ
I have worked in the Registrars industry for over 36 years and in Corporate Actions specifically for 32 years of that time. My current role is Managing Director of Corporate Actions, CREST and Banking. I am lucky to work with a number of experts in their field across my teams, but also across the wider group, including, relationship management, legal, EFSL, Engineering, IMC, Birmingham Customer Experience Centre, given Corporate Actions can touch many parts of the wider business.
As well as supporting and leading my teams, I also engage with our clients, their legal and financial advisors and other industry experts externally, either in relation to specific types of corporate actions or on corporate actions initiatives and standards, through working parties/groups. I enjoy my job as every day is different and there are always challenges to overcome, which I am happy to get my teeth into.
What office are you located at?
I work in the Worthing office near the sea and with the South Downs not to far away as well. All my teams are based in the Worthing office, although supported by a few colleagues in India. As my teams work on Corporate Actions and/or support other areas of Equiniti UK, it is good to have most of the Relationship Management, Employee Services, Engineering, IMC and other teams that we work closely with, at the same office to easily collaborate.
What’s happened in your career up to this point?
I started in the Post Room of Lloyds Bank Registrars back in 1989 and then the Bulk Despatch team before being successful in my application for a job in Corporate Actions operations in 1993 and realised this was right up my street, where every day is different. There are challenges to overcome, you are continually learning, and you are dealing with high profile clients and events that have a beginning and an end, so you can get satisfaction from successful completion of a task.
As a consequence of loving the work and the people I was working with, I was able to flourish and over the next ten years I went to Team Leader on Corporate Action operations and then got my Assistant Manager role in Customer Care (Corporate Action planning) before ending up in Corporate Action Marketing (which included being the first point of contact with clients and advisors on Corporate Actions, understanding the requirements and agreeing fees for the services we will provide). Shortly after that, the Customer Care and Marketing team was combined and called Corporate Advice and over the next fifteen years or so I progressed to Senior Manager, then Head of Corporate Advice and then Managing Director of Corporate Advice following the addition of the Employee Schemes Corporate Advice team to my department. Finally, following a restructure in mid-2024, I took on the responsibility for Corporate Actions operations and Banking Services and then, in January 2025, Industry, Operations and CREST and SWIFT (IOCS – which mainly includes the CREST Process Control team) and changed my title to Managing Director, Corporate Actions, CREST and Banking. As I have always engaged and/or worked closely with these teams anyway, it was an easy transition, and I am currently thoroughly enjoying my wider role.
What do you like about EQ?
The main thing I like about Equiniti is the people. The work cannot be done without the people, and you need to have the right people in the right jobs. We are very lucky to be blessed with such people, many of whom have been in the business for a long time like me. They therefore have a wealth of knowledge which can be invaluable in this industry. To work in this industry, you do need to be of a certain type and, therefore, being of a similar mind, I find most people easy to get on with which just makes the job easier.
What's your biggest EQ achievement?
One of my most significant achievements at EQ has been my involvement in the largest online Rights Issue in 2024. Despite the challenges presented by an exceptionally busy year, Corporate Advice and Corporate Actions - with support from other teams - successfully delivered all required tasks, including the Rights Issue, for all our associated clients. The outcome was remarkable, with Corporate Actions income exceeding twice the budget set at the start of the year.
What are you looking forward to in the future at EQ?
With a new focus and with strategic priorities, I am looking forward to promoting the new culture, taking more note of customer feedback, developing more digitised solutions, especially in the work of Corporate Actions (such as online portals for corporate action elections and electronic payments), delivering with excellence, and supporting our business in conquering new markets.
Do you have a fun fact to share?
I have played in the FA Cup, albeit in the preliminary rounds, and enjoy all sports, whether taking part or watching.
A big thank you to Richard for sharing his thoughts with us.
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