Introduction and what your role is at EQ
I have worked in the Share Plan industry for just over 27 years. My role is Head of Share Plan Trustee Services, where I have spent more than half of my time at EQ. This role really does tick all the boxes for me; I get to manage a wonderful team from very mixed backgrounds, I have plenty of contact with our SIP clients, the role is very technical and can be quite complex involving liaison with EQ legal and legal advisors working for our clients, I am directly accountable to the ESPTL Board, and as Company Secretary of ESPTL I manage the Board meetings and have a keen interest in the financials.
Wendy Butcher
Head of Share Plan Trustee Services
What office are you located at and tell us something special about this location?
Worthing – which is handy as this is also where my family live!
What’s happened in your career up to this point?
I started my career in Finance doing a project role, which was meant to be a temporary position whilst I finished writing my dissertation! I joined the graduate scheme shortly after this and really enjoyed my tour of various registration and employee share plans teams, including a stint at Tesco head office in Hertfordshire. After the graduate scheme I joined Hill Samuel ESOP Trustees Limited and assisted in the Trustee set up when SIPs were first launched; I briefly returned to a project role before becoming a relationship manager, which for 6 years was my dream job, what’s not to love about building relationships with some of our biggest clients? After a short break to become a mum I returned to the Trustee role, now called Equiniti Share Plan Trustees Limited, but this time to head up the team.
What do you like about EQ?
The people – when you have worked for the same organisation for as long as I have you know so many people, and some of those people you feel that you have grown up with, and when presented with a challenge, there is always someone with the knowledge and the skills willing to help.
What's your biggest EQ achievement?
Personally I have been very lucky to be supported through my studies, I obtained my ICSA professional qualification, a Masters in Business Administration and the ICSA certificate in Employee Share Plans. My biggest achievement has been to be instrumental in building an enviable reputation for ESPTL within EQ for a hardworking, professional team who are always willing to help colleagues and our clients.
What are you looking forward to in the future at EQ?
I remain ever hopeful that there will be SIP shakeup as a result of the call for evidence work, but until this happens, I remain excited by the technological roadmaps that offers so much opportunity.
What hobbies do you enjoy?
In my spare time I am a Girl Guide volunteer, but camping is definitely not for me!
A big thank you to Wendy for sharing her thoughts with us.