Prior to joining Stanhope, Shelley (pictured) spent 14 years in finance and private wealth management roles at Goldman Sachs. He was most recently the firm's chief financial officer of private wealth management for EMEA.

“Stanhope Capital is growing significantly. There is strong demand internationally for genuinely independent advice, aligned with clients’ interests, and access to a broad platform of innovative investment opportunities. Chris joins us at an important time, as we seek to continue to expand in our existing markets – and potentially in new markets – supported by the very best professionals in the industry,” CEO Daniel Pinto said, who founded the firm back in 2004.

It now operates from offices in London, Geneva, Paris, New York, Philadelphia and Palm Beach and oversees $28 billion in client assets. Its US market presence was bolstered in November when the group announced a merger with US-based FWM Holdings, owner of Forbes Family Trust, LGL, AM Global and Optima, in a move designed to capture more private market expertise.

Stanhope has also been racking up senior hires, including Pierre Mallevays, who joined as co-head of merchant banking in February, and Fleur Pellerin, Keyu Jin, Bonnie Steiner and Thomas H Lee who joined the group’s board at the start of the year as non-executive directors.

The group has also recently launched a new vehicle focused on exposure to major venture capital firms as this service reported last month.

It is understood that underlying VC funds in Stanhope's new investment setup include Khosla Ventures and General Catalyst Partners.