A new group, the Family Office Council, has been founded for individuals who specialise in the family office sector, according to an announcement from the group yesterday.

The group, created by Keith Johnston, who is chief executive of the FOC, and co-chaired by lawyer John Riches and family office chief investment officer Jean-Bernard Tanqueray, is an invitation-only community for family office specialists. Full membership carries a £500 ($808.6) fee.

Membership is selective and is through nomination by a full member, a family office or an ultra high net worth individual, a statement from the group said. There are two strands of membership: family office advisors, chaired by John Riches; and family office executives, chaired by Jean-Bernard Tanqueray.

Family office executives are defined as those employed directly by families to provide family office services in-house. 

“We have created a secure non-commercial environment for family office executives to share problems and solutions,” Tanqueray said.

Family office advisors are defined as professional advisors whose common interest is that they serve UHNW clients and family offices. The organisation has held its founding meeting at the officers of Withers this week.