Rathbones, the wealth manager, has secured a financial licence from the Central Bank of Ireland, paving the way for its operations in Ireland and the wider EU. This Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) licence will allow the firm to support both new and existing clients.
The company will conduct its European business through Rathbones Ireland, its Dublin-based entity. Camilla Stowell, chief executive of wealth at Rathbones, stated that securing the Irish licence is "central to what we do," providing a base to support clients across Ireland and the EU.
Dolores Geaney, managing director of Rathbones Ireland, who was appointed in April to establish the European business, highlighted Ireland as a "natural home" due to its EU connections and international financial market. Geaney noted the focus is now on building a client-led business from Dublin.
The move comes as Ireland has grown as a financial hub, with other groups like Evelyn Partners, Aviva, Royal London, and Blackrock also having operations in Dublin. Rathbones also noted that nearly 6,000 high-growth entrepreneurs left the UK between 2024 and 2026, compared to 3,000 who moved to the UK.