Custom House Global Fund Services, a provider of financial services to the alternative investment sector, has opened a San Francisco office as part of its continuing expansion in the US.

Financial services veteran Gary Smith has joined Custom House as a commercial director and is responsible for continuing Custom House growth ambitions on the West Coast, opening a San Francisco office, and ongoing business development.
 
He will report to Scott Price, head of aales for the Americas, who is located in the company’s US headquarters in Chicago.
 
“Our expansion to the West Coast is part of Custom House’s strategic plan for the US, which we continue to view as an important region and engine of growth for the alternative asset sector. Gary will lead our West coast efforts from San Francisco, which is currently experiencing a surge in asset manager across various vehicles including hedge, private equity, venture capital funds and real estate as well as managed account and managed account platforms,” says Mark Hedderman, CEO, Custom House Global Fund Services.
 
The firm opened a New York office last October and has eight global locations, with over USD40bn of assets under administration and 200 staff.
 
Custom House recently launched Gateway, a web based reporting platform that connects fund servicing with solutions across the middle and back office, designed specifically for US alternative investment managers.
 
Smith has over 20 years’ experience as a financial services professional across venture capital, private equity and hedge funds as well as corporate finance, capital introductions and financings, sales and marketing initiatives. His experience on the West Coast includes investment banking, private placements and sales positions with Pacific Growth Equities, Hambrecht & Quist/JPMorganH&Q, and NationsBanc Montgomery Securities/Banc America Securities.