London Blog | Life Working | Astbury Marsden

The year ahead may bring some changes, but there's a mood of cautious optimism in some parts of the business

Hello 2012!

I think most of the City was pleased to see the back of 2011 – the latter half of the year proved pretty tough. The Christmas holidays are always a time for me to rest, see the family, recharge the batteries and to enjoy the festive merriment. Unfortunately, times change, and our new addition to the family definitely did not heed his father’s advice to rest! He did however prove an effective family and baby gift magnet.

It was a fantastic (if tiring) Christmas. My family live a 100 miles away, and I now fully understand how any long journey and overnight stay becomes a major logistical operation when the back seat has a little human on it – so next year, Mum, Dad, you can come to us!

Taken as a whole, 2011 was a good year for our business, and one where we learned a lot. It was also a life-changing year for me personally. We have settled into life in the country (I still love it!) and the commute is fine. We are now past the shortest day, daffodils are starting to pop up and despite major sleep deprivation, I have a spring in my step and am relishing the challenge that is 2012.

For any sales business, a new year brings an opportunity to reset and wipe the boards clean – and with that, fresh expectation, renewed optimism and new objectives. I am hoping Europe and the Financial Services sector see it the same way! I think there is no doubt that capital markets, as we know them, will change in 2012 and beyond, the question is how much and to what effect. Our Change Management team are rubbing their hands!