O’Driscoll, formerly divisional director, business development and advice at St James’s Place Wealth Management, will lead the product development strategy for OPAL, Ortec Finance’s “trusted intelligent advice technology,” which already underpins client advice at many of Europe’s largest banks, pension providers and wealth managers, the firm said in a statement.

O’Driscoll has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services. At SJP he led the development of advice and planning tools used by thousands of advisors, including the rollout of AI and automation solutions that improved advice quality and freed up significant advisor time. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.

“The UK is a hugely important market for us and John’s appointment underlines the scale of our ambition,” Tessa Kuijl, managing director Global Wealth Solutions at Ortec, said. “His deep knowledge of the advice landscape, combined with his leadership experience and vision on utilizing AI and automation solutions for advisors, will be key to further develop OPAL’s proven technology to the next level for UK and global institutions, advisors and their clients.”

DoubleLine Capital
US-headquartered , an independent, employee-owned money management firm, has appointed Ali Zaidi (pictured) as head of international client business. Based in the Dubai office, he reports to DoubleLine president, Ron Redell.

Ali Zaidi

Zaidi is responsible for leading the firm’s international client team in developing business and serving clients outside the US. He and his team help clients match their return and risk-management goals to active investment strategies adapted to a world undergoing secular and cyclical change, the firm said in a statement.

“His broad experience will elevate our firm in bringing to global clients our asset-management expertise,” Redell said.

Previously, Zaidi was head of client business for the Middle East and North Africa at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, based in Dubai, where he managed a team of client-coverage professionals based in London, Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Zaidi has also worked in structuring and sales of credit and structured products (including Sharia-compliant products); financial control of equities and equity derivatives; and auditing in financial services. During his career he has been based in London, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai. Zaidi is a fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW).