Last checked at 7 Feb 2013 07:00
7 February 2013
BURFORD CAPITAL APPOINTS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Burford also expands US team with new underwriting and finance hires
Burford Capital ("Burford"), the world's largest provider of investment capital and risk solutions for litigation, today announces the appointment of Miriam Connole as its Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Connole, who will be responsible for the global financial affairs of the company, will be based in Burford's London office. This is a new position at Burford; Burford previously relied on outsourced financial management and its other executive resources and the cost of this position is expected to be largely recouped from cost reductions elsewhere.
Ms. Connole most recently served as Group Commercial Finance Director of Friends Life Group, a leading UK insurer. Previously, she was the Chief Financial Officer of RSA's Central & Eastern European region. She has worked in the insurance industry for the past eleven years, during which time she also gained extensive international finance and insurance experience at both AIG and ACE.
Before entering the insurance industry, Miriam qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Arthur Andersen in Ireland and spent several years there in the audit practice. She graduated with a Masters of Accounting from University College Dublin and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from University College Galway.
Commenting on Ms. Connole's hire, Christopher Bogart, Burford Capital's CEO, said: "With Burford's business expanding significantly over the past year, it is time to enlist someone of Miriam's expertise and experience as CFO. We are delighted to have found someone with her international perspective, tax background, and deep involvement in the financial services industry."
In addition to Ms. Connole's appointment, Burford announces it has recently added two new members to its team in New York: Andrew Cohen, formerly of Debevoise & Plimpton, and Christina Yue, formerly of Ernst & Young.
Mr. Cohen, who is joining as a Vice President in Burford's underwriting and investment arm, was a senior litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, a major US law firm, where he specialized in litigation and regulatory matters involving financial institutions and complex financial products, as well as IP matters relating to trademark disputes. He regularly represented financial institutions and public companies before state Attorneys General, the SEC, and the DOJ in investigations into complex securities including auction rate securities and MBS, accounting issues and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. Mr. Cohen graduated from Columbia Law School, where he was a Stone Scholar and an editor of the Columbia Law Review.
Ms. Yue, who is joining as Vice President, Finance, was most recently a manager at Ernst & Young auditing large hedge funds, fund of funds, and mutual funds that collectively have more than $20 billion in assets under management. She graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Binghamton with a BSC in Accounting.
Commenting on the two appointments, Mr. Bogart said: "Burford is always seeking exceptional talent. Andrew and Christina both have strong experience and training, and each add to the high caliber of the Burford team. We are confident that they will both add real value as we expand and deepen our business. The cost of these appointments was already in Burford's operating budget and cost base."
For further information, please contact:
FTI Consulting - PR for Burford CapitalEdward Berry +44 (0)20 7269 7297Laura Ewart +44 (0)20 7269 7243
About Burford
Burford Capital is the world's largest provider of investment capital and risk solutions for litigation with more than $300 million in capital and the largest and most experienced dedicated team in the industry. Burford is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market under the ticker symbol BUR. Burford provides a broad range of corporate finance and insurance solutions to lawyers and clients engaged in significant litigation and arbitration around the world.
For more information about Burford, visit www.burfordcapital.com