THE SOVEREIGN GROUP BOARD
Howard T. D. Bilton BA, Barrister-at-Law, Chairman of The Sovereign Group
Howard Bilton is Chairman of The Sovereign Group – one of the world’s largest consultancies specialising in the provision of offshore trusts and companies and associated international tax advice. He holds joint honours degree in classics and law from the University of Keele and is qualified as a Barrister and called to the Bars of both England/Wales and Gibraltar.
He regularly lectures throughout the world on tax and offshore related subjects, giving presentations lasting anywhere between 45 minutes and 3 days and has contributed numerous articles and chapters to relevant technical publications. Howard is a visiting non-resident professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, where he assists with their LLM and Masters degrees in International Tax and Offshore Centres.
In 2003 he formed The Sovereign Art Foundation Limited which is a charity registered in Hong Kong and the UK dedicated to raising money for worthy artistic causes through its Asian and European art prizes. Between them they have raised over US$4 million. See www.SovereignArtFoundation.com.
He is the principal of Hillvalley Limited which makes wine in Portugal sold throughout the world under the Howard’s Folly brand name.
Diane Dentith – Managing Director
Diane was born and educated in Scotland before moving to the Isle of Man in 1982. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators with over twenty years experience in the offshore industry in Gibraltar, the Turks & Caicos Islands and in the Isle of Man. Diane is the managing director of The Sovereign Group and is now based in the Isle of Man. She is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the International Tax Planning Association.
Simon Denton
Simon began his offshore career in 1988 with The Consult Group before joining the Gibraltar offices of the Sovereign Group in 1990. During his 6 years based in Gibraltar he became the managing director of the Sovereign Trust (Gibraltar) Ltd. He served two terms as Chairman of the Association of Trust & Company Managers and was a member of the Gibraltar Government Financial Sector Legislation Committee. He then moved to London in 1996 and established the Group’s UK subsidiaries and continues to be the managing director of these two companies.. Simon has been the Chairperson of the UK Chapter of The Offshore Institute, is still the Vice President of The Royal Society of Fellows, continues to be a member of The Institute of Management and is a regular lecturer and speaker at tax planning conventions throughout the world.
John L. Hodgson LL.B, TEP – Group Legal Director
John qualified as a solicitor in England in 1983 after obtaining his law degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. He is also admitted as a solicitor and notary public in Gibraltar and Hong Kong where he practised for ten years both as a partner and consultant in one of Hong Kong's largest local firms. He has extensive experience of commercial contracts, corporate joint ventures and trust formation and administration. John has interests in legal practices in Gibraltar and Spain and also serves as non-executive director to two public companies. He is a member of the International Bar Association, the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, the International Tax Planning Association, the Law Society of England & Wales, the Gibraltar Bar Association and the English Notaries Society.
Gerry Kelly FCCA – Group Finance Director
Gerry qualified as an Accountant in Ireland in 1987 having worked in the banking and retail sectors. In 1988 he moved to the Isle of Man to join Pannell Kerr Forster, Chartered Accountants prior to joining Bank of Ireland. As well as his background in accountancy, Gerry has extensive experience in private banking and investments. Gerry also worked in Jersey for a two year period for Bank of Ireland. In 2002 Gerry joined Sovereign in Gibraltar as Group Financial Controller working from Gibraltar. He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
