A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)
Imperium, a private wealth management firm, has announced the opening of its Abu Dhabi office on Al Maryah Island within ADGM as part of its international expansion strategy.
Imperium is based in Guernsey, a British Crown Dependency in the English Channel. In a LinkedIn description, the firm says it delivers tailored fiduciary, corporate and fund services with expertise and discretion.
The new office, Imperium (AD) Limited, marks a significant milestone in the firm’s continued global expansion, the company said in a media statement.
“ADGM has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for private capital, family offices, wealth structuring and cross-border investment,” the statement said. “Establishing a presence in ADGM represents a natural next step in Imperium’s continued growth strategy.”
The new office will be led by Magda Stratford and Gerry Gowans, who have joined Imperium to lead the firm’s Middle East private wealth offering.
“Magda and Gerry bring extensive experience advising high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutional clients across the region, and will play a key role in establishing and growing Imperium’s presence in ADGM and the wider Middle East,” the statement said.
In a LinkedIn post announcing the launch, Magdalena Stratford said what began as a conversation has become a reality, describing the establishment of Imperium (AD) Limited and its new office on Al Maryah Island as “an incredibly rewarding journey”.
Having recently made Abu Dhabi her home, Stratford said she had experienced first-hand “the energy, ambition and momentum” driving the growth of ADGM. She described ADGM as the “capital of capital”, saying it continues to attract global wealth, talent and investment while reinforcing its position as one of the world’s leading centres for private capital and international families.
She said Imperium’s presence at the heart of this evolving ecosystem positions the firm to work closely with clients, intermediaries and strategic partners to deliver sophisticated wealth structuring, governance and succession planning solutions.
Stratford also said she was delighted to be working alongside Gerry Gowans, who will be based between Abu Dhabi and Jersey and will oversee the continued development of Imperium’s GCC private wealth offering. His experience across both regions will be valuable in strengthening connections between the firm’s teams, clients and professional networks as Imperium continues to grow, she said.
Stratford said ADGM is rapidly becoming the jurisdiction of choice for internationally mobile families, family offices and private capital.
“The convergence of global wealth, regulatory innovation and institutional-grade infrastructure is creating significant opportunities,” Stratford said.
She said establishing Imperium’s office on Al Maryah Island places the firm at the centre of this growth story.
David Gilmour, Group CEO of Imperium, said the opening of the Abu Dhabi office represents “an exciting new chapter” for the firm.
“The region continues to see strong demand for sophisticated private wealth solutions, and we are delighted to have Magda and Gerry leading our efforts on the ground,” Gilmour said. “Their expertise and network will be invaluable as we build a market-leading offering in the Middle East.”
The ADGM office will provide a comprehensive suite of private wealth and fiduciary services, including international structuring, family governance, succession planning, entity administration and bespoke solutions for high-net-worth individuals, family offices and private capital clients with multi-jurisdictional requirements.