Guernsey Finance, the promotional agency for the island’s financial services sector, has named Paul Sykes as its new Chairman.
The organisation represents and supports Guernsey’s globally respected finance industry, which spans investment funds, private wealth, insurance, pensions, and banking.
Sykes, Managing Director at Aon Guernsey, takes over from Deputy Lyndon Trott OBE, Guernsey’s Chief Minister, who served as Chairman from 2016 to 2025.
A well-known figure in the local financial services community, Sykes brings more than 35 years of experience to the role.
He began his career in Guernsey and has since held senior leadership positions for Aon at both national and regional levels.
Since returning to the island in 2010, he has been closely involved in the development and success of Guernsey’s insurance industry, including its expertise in captive insurance, Insurance Linked Securities (ILS), and reinsurance.
Sykes also recently served as Chair of the Guernsey International Business Association (GIBA) from May 2023. His successor in that role, Jo Peacegood, remains on the Guernsey Finance Board of Directors.
Sykes said: “It’s a tremendous privilege and an exciting responsibility to be taking over from our Chief Minister as Chair of Guernsey Finance. I share with Lyndon the same love for Guernsey which manifests into a mission and purpose to promote and serve the island.
“There is huge potential for Guernsey’s financial services industry to build on the recent endorsements we have received from MoneyVal and rating agency Standard & Poors, which reinforce Guernsey’s reputation as a safe, stable and secure business in which to do business.
“We have great talent in the sector allied to proven regulatory and legal frameworks. We can add to that a track record with many of the world’s major corporations, global organisations and government agencies, who have worked with us to create numerous world firsts and innovative solutions for clients and communities worldwide.
“The global financial markets have rarely been more volatile than in 2025, but Guernsey is agile and can adapt better than most jurisdictions to the new ‘multi-aligned world’. We can be both a safe place for international investment and a conduit for capital into London and other reputable finance centres.”
Paul holds a master’s degree in Corporate Governance and is a Chartered Insurer. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute and a Chartered Director accredited by the Institute of Directors.
Deputy Trott added: “It has been a privilege to serve as Chairman of such a dynamic team for the last nine years. The Board is fortunate to be welcoming Paul as our new Chair, who is both incredibly knowledgeable about Guernsey’s financial services sector and deeply committed to the role.
“He is also very engaging and personable, and I have no doubt that Paul will guide our strategy forward from a strong base laid out from positive outcomes in 2024 and prior.”
Guernsey Finance Chief Executive Rupert Pleasant commented: “On behalf of the Guernsey Finance team, I would like to extend a huge thank you to Lyndon for his unwavering dedication in leading our agency for the last nine years.
“His tenure as Chair has proved incredibly fruitful, with the island’s reputation as a leading international finance centre being enhanced year on year, and we are immensely grateful for his guidance and support.
“Looking ahead, I am confident that Paul’s expertise will enable us to bolster Guernsey’s hard-earned reputation. We will continue to progress, thanks to the solid expertise we have built up within our Board, to shape our strategy as we continue to navigate the global financial services sector’s evolving trends and challenges.”
