Guernsey's newest offshore bank, Bank Aston, has named Will Davey as its CFO. Davey, who brings over three decades of international experience from UBS (formerly Credit Suisse), is tasked with injecting fresh energy into a market he openly describes as "tired and stale," signaling a major challenge to incumbent offshore financial institutions.
Bank Aston, the newly licensed offshore bank in Guernsey, has signaled its intent to aggressively build out its senior leadership and challenge the status quo by appointing Will Davey as its Chief Financial Officer. Davey, bringing over 30 years of international banking expertise, returns to Guernsey after an eleven-year tenure in Switzerland, most recently at UBS (following its takeover of Credit Suisse).
The appointment is a crucial step for Bank Aston, which secured Guernsey’s first banking license in nearly three decades this past June from the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC). The bank is positioning its senior team for an expected customer launch in 2026 and is prioritizing governance and deep offshore expertise.
Davey’s career track provides a CFO audience with a concrete example of financial leadership navigating major transitions. His last role in Zurich was as Managing Director and Deputy CFO of Credit Suisse AG Parent Bank. In this capacity, he oversaw the critical transition of key Finance processes to UBS while maintaining governance and continuity. Prior to the merger, Davey was Group Head of Liquidity Management after relocating to Zurich in 2014. His experience isn’t only in Switzerland, as he spent over two decades with Credit Suisse in Guernsey before moving abroad.
Paul Gorman, Bank Aston’s CEO, highlighted Davey’s regulatory knowledge as a major draw. “His regulatory understanding is second to none… He held a GFSC-approved position during his time in Guernsey and managed engagement with the Swiss regulator when he was in Zurich,” Gorman noted. This regulatory experience is critical as Bank Aston seeks to reinforce its commitment to good governance and first-class banking services.
The primary mandate for Davey and the broader Bank Aston C-suite appears to be transformation. Davey did not mince words regarding the current market.
“The current offshore banking landscape is tired and stale – I know it and clients know it, too,” Davey stated. He added that leading Bank Aston in “shaking things up” is a challenge he is looking forward to.
Davey articulated the bank’s specific mission: to provide a better service for offshore customers that is “faster, better, simpler and tailored to their needs”. This sentiment resonates strongly with the needs of family offices, investment funds, and trustees, who CEO Paul Gorman suggests “need a better banking process”.
Kevin Brown, Chairman of Bank Aston, emphasized the value of this client-centric perspective in a CFO, noting that Davey’s “understanding of the widespread issues that private clients and high-wealth operators are facing with their banking services” will be “invaluable” as the bank builds out its cutting-edge services and innovative technology.
For US and UK-based CFOs with international business, this appointment is more than just a personnel change—it provides a clear data point on the state of the offshore banking sector.
With its recent C-suite appointments, including Non-Executive Directors Claire Whittet and Roy McGregor, Bank Aston is diligently building its foundation with high-caliber talent ahead of its commercial debut.