Since the financial deregulation in the 1980s, financial institutions have grown ever larger and more distant from their clients. Our founders wanted the firm’s clients to benefit from the stability and freedom that comes from being an independent, family controlled and employee-owned firm.
As we’ve grown, we’ve remained rooted in our heritage, determined to do things right and do them well.
A brief history of the firm's development follows:
The Big Bang liberalised the UK Financial Markets. Alan McInroy and Victor Wood form McInroy & Wood to accommodate private clients’ needs, provide long-term financial security and peace of mind. Office is in Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland.
Having outgrown Alan’s kitchen table we took office space in Haddington. Our move to 46 Court Street provided space for the next 18 years.
We launched our Balanced Fund; a complete portfolio for private clients held via a unit trust. Initially named "MW Joint Investors", the fund’s objective was set to match the needs of many private clients; the preservation and growth of their capital and income above inflation.
Balanced FundWe launched the Income Fund to meet demand from clients looking for a higher income from their portfolios. Both the Balanced Fund and the Income Fund continue to serve clients today.
Income Fund
Tim Wood, Victor’s son joined the firm from the London Stock Exchange, ensuring continuity of family control and the firm's ongoing independence.
Also in 2000, due to increasing demand for our services outside of Scotland, David Cumming set up our office in London. David joined us following a career in institutional fund management. He retired in 2017.
Having invested in lesser known smaller companies for years, we launched our Smaller Companies Fund to provide clients and investors with access to a portfolio of companies which would otherwise be difficult and expensive for them to construct.
Smaller Companies Fund
Our firm continued to grow and needed more space. We invested in our offices at Easter Alderston, Haddington. We designed the space to comfortably accommodate our team of 30, on a site with ample room for future expansion.
In the same year, we launched our Emerging Markets Fund to provide clients and investors exposure to markets and economies that would otherwise be difficult to access.
Liz Wild led the opening of our Harrogate office allowing us to better serve our growing client base in the North of England.
After 30 years with the firm, Victor Wood stepped down as Chairman. Simon Fraser, Ex-Chief Investment Officer of Fidelity, became the firm's first Non-Executive Chairman.
Increasing demand from US clients prompted us to register with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), allowing us to manage portfolios for US clients.
Tim Wood announces his successor. Wendy Ferguson, our long-standing Director of Operations and IT, will become the Chief Executive in June 2025. Tim will become the deputy Non-Executive Chairman. Wendy will be the first non-family member to lead the firm.
Wendy's profile
