The firm recognises exceptional talent and leadership with a trio of appointments that reflect its continued growth and ambition. The appointments span our Wealth Management and Private Markets divisions, and take immediate effect.
Tom Upson Promoted to Managing Director, Head of Wealth Management
Tom has been promoted to Managing Director, having previously served as Director and Head of Wealth Management. In this elevated role, Tom will continue to lead the firm's wealth management offering, driving strategic direction and overseeing client relationships across the division. His promotion reflects both the growth of the team under his leadership and the increasing importance of wealth management to Carpenter Farraday's broader business.
Tom joined Carpenter Farraday with a wealth of experience in private client advisory and has been instrumental in expanding the firm's reach within the wealth management space. His deep understanding of client needs, combined with a rigorous approach to portfolio strategy, has made him a trusted figure both internally and among the firm's client base. This reputation extends beyond the firm: Tom has recently been nominated in the Spears Advisor Index 2025, an independently compiled guide recognising the UK's leading wealth advisors — a further reflection of the standing he has built within the industry.
Michael Bergin Promoted to Managing Director, Private Markets
Michael has been appointed to the role of Managing Director within the Private Markets division, stepping up from his previous position as Director, Private Markets. Michael has been a central figure in building out Carpenter Farraday’s private markets capabilities, and his promotion to Managing Director recognises the significant contribution he has made to the growth and performance of this strategically important area of the business.
In his new role, Michael will take on expanded responsibilities across deal origination and working closely with senior management and our US Partner, Norgay Partners to shape the firm’s private markets strategy. His expertise spans a broad range of alternative asset classes, and he is widely regarded as one of the firm’s leading practitioners in the space.
Jake O'Donovan Promoted to Director, Private Markets
Jake has been promoted to Director, Private Markets, having joined Carpenter Farraday as a Consultant. His rapid progression through the firm is a testament to his talent, dedication and the consistent quality of his work.
Since joining, Jake has played a central role in building Carpenter Farraday's coverage of the private markets sector, working with a broad range of clients spanning private equity firms and placement agents. He has been instrumental in helping private markets firms build out their wealth management sales and investor relations functions, developing a strong understanding of the talent and structural requirements these teams demand. Alongside this, Jake has taken a leading role in the origination and execution of fundraising searches, supporting private equity firms across Europe and North America in building the teams they need to access and grow their investor bases.
In his new role as Director, Jake will take on expanded responsibility across both client relationships and search execution, continuing to drive the growth of Carpenter Farraday's private markets offering. His promotion reflects not only his personal achievement but also the firm's commitment to developing senior talent from within and its ambition to deepen its presence across the private markets landscape.
Commenting on the promotions, Simon Nixon, Managing Director and Founder of Carpenter Farraday said:
“These promotions represent exactly the kind of recognition we aspire to give to the exceptional people who make Carpenter Farraday what it is. Tom, Michael and Jake have each demonstrated outstanding commitment and ability, and we are delighted to see them take on these expanded roles. Their continued development is a source of great pride for the firm, and we look forward to seeing them go from strength to strength in their new positions.”
The three promotions take effect immediately.