Caroline Connellan to join Highvern and Permian as Group CEO

Permian and Highvern, together with Jacobs Capital, announce the appointment of Caroline Connellan as Group Chief Executive Officer, effective 5 January 2026.
The appointment marks an important step for the combined Group, with two established and complementary businesses, as it focuses on differentiating its offering through service quality, technology and long-term client relationships. Backed by Jacobs Capital’s long-term investment, it reflects the Group’s ongoing commitment to growth as a leading international provider of fund services and private capital solutions.
Caroline succeeds Martin Hall, co-founder and CEO of Highvern for the past nine years and currently CEO of the combined Group. Martin will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, effective 5 January 2026. Based in London, Caroline brings more than 25 years of financial services experience and has held a number of prominent leadership positions including CEO of M&G Wealth, and CEO and Executive Director of Brooks Macdonald Group plc. She has a proven track record of leading and growing wealth and asset management businesses, while driving technological transformations in regulated environments, all with a strong client focus.
Caroline has also made significant contributions to the broader sector and is recognised as an industry voice, having served as a Board Director of The Investment Association and as a member of HM Treasury’s Asset Management Taskforce. Her appointment reflects the Group’s commitment to strengthening its leadership as it continues to build scale, expand into key markets and deliver long-term value for clients.
Martin Hall, current Group CEO, said: “After nine years as co-founder and CEO of Highvern, this is the right moment for me to move into a new role within the Group. I’m incredibly proud of how far the business has come - driven by the talent of our people and the quality of our client relationships. As we grow Highvern and Permian together, the Group is entering an exciting new chapter, and Caroline’s experience and leadership make her exceptionally well-placed to guide the organisation forward.”
Caroline Connellan, incoming Group CEO, commented: “I’m delighted to be joining Highvern and Permian at such an important time, as the Group looks to differentiate its offering and expand its reach. Highvern and Permian are both leaders in their respective markets, with strong track records of delivering outstanding service and value for clients across multiple jurisdictions. The opportunity now is to build on that success, continuing to invest in our people and technological innovation to meet the evolving needs of clients and to drive future growth. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Group to achieve this.”
Johan Pettersson, Head of Business Services at Jacobs Capital, added: “Caroline’s significant experience in driving digital transformations of businesses in regulated environments, her client focus, and leadership strengths align closely with our long-term vision for the Group. We are confident that under her direction, Highvern and Permian will continue to grow, innovate and deliver exceptional service that meets the increasingly complex needs of clients, while expanding both in existing jurisdictions and into strategically important new markets.”
Operating across eight jurisdictions - the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Ireland, Jersey, Norway, South Africa, Sweden and the UK- with over 300 colleagues and $45 billion in assets under administration, the Group supports asset managers, private capital sponsors, family offices, and institutional clients through a connected, multi-jurisdictional platform.












