J & A Beare brings on leading International commerce figures
to new Global Advisory Board to help facilitate our long-term goal of securing fine instruments
for talented musicians through the Beare’s International Violin Society
J & A Beare announces formation of Global Advisory Board
Personal message from Steven Smith
“I am delighted to announce today the formation of our new Global Advisory Board. It launches a significant new era in the 130-year history of J & A Beare and will help us reach a new class of institutional investors.
As a company we continue to be committed to the world-leading service we offer our long-standing and prospective clients. We continue to strive to develop the market at all levels and I am particularly proud of our recent achievements here.
The press release below outlining the exciting opportunities unlocked by the new Board represents just one of several new strands of work that, together, expand the service and assistance we provide to investors at all levels, as well as for musicians from across the world.
Our Scientific Research and Conservation Department, the ever-growing support provided by the Beare’s International Violin Society, and our Beare’s Chamber Music project for young musicians are testament both to our peerless work developing the fine instrument market for clients and players, as well as to our long-term commitment to nurturing the future of classical music.”
Steven Smith
Owner and Managing Director
J & A Beare
An asset class grows up: How one company is turning great stringed instruments into mainstream investments
J & A Beare, “the acknowledged world authority on stringed instruments” (The Guardian) brings on leading International commerce figures to new Advisory Board to further attract institutional connections to the multi-billion fine instrument market
London, 1 December 2023 – Today, J & A Beare announces the creation of a new Global Advisory Board, with three of the most prominent International private instrument collectors over recent decades – Jonathan Moulds CBE, Kristian Siem and Professor Winston Wong OBE. The Board will focus on opening up the fine instrument market to a new class of global investors.
The Board will support and advise the company to make the fine instrument market a trusted and widespread alternative-asset investment among institutional investors, pension funds, HNW families and similar organisations.
With the largest set of historic sales data of any global dealer, spanning more than two centuries of transactions, J & A Beare has recently developed a proprietary sales index, audited by KPMG, documenting prices and financial returns of Stradivari violins. This index is unique to J & A Beare. These have historically outperformed the major stock indices over both the medium and long-term horizons.
Additionally, through J & A Beare’s philanthropic initiative, the Beare’s International Violin Society, the company will continue to support talented artists through the development of their careers. This has been a cornerstone of the company’s philosophy over many years.
J & A Beare Owner and Managing Director Steven Smith said “I am delighted Jonathan, Kristian and Winston have agreed to join the J & A Beare Global Advisory Board. Their collective business experience and passion for great stringed instruments will be a most important step for the company as we look to further develop the global interest in fine stringed instruments.“
About the Global Advisory Board
Jonathan Moulds
During his 30 plus year executive career Jonathan has held various key positions including as International head of Bank of America, CEO of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Group COO of Barclays and Chair of the International Swap & Derivatives Association. He is currently Chair of CGML, the International subsidiary of Citi, Chair of the Board at Litigation Capital Management, Senior Independent Director at IG Group, the global leveraged trading platform and Chair of the Financial Market Standards Board. Beside his professional roles, Jonathan is actively involved in a number of charitable interests including Chair of the London Symphony Orchestra Advisory Council and the Benedetti Foundation. For his philanthropic work with various charities including the LSO, Jonathan received a CBE in 2014. Jonathan is a keen amateur player and for many years has been a globally renowned collector of fine stringed instruments. A number of his instruments are loaned to leading soloists such as Nicola Benedetti, Roman Simovic, several Menuhin competition winners as well as numerous artists through the Beare’s International Violin Society. He holds a first-class degree in mathematics from the University of Cambridge.
Kristian Siem
Norwegian-born Kristian has a degree in business economics and is involved in the offshore construction and shipping industries. Since 1972 he has been active in the energy industry. He is currently Chairman of Subsea 7, Siem Industries Inc. and Siem Offshore Inc. and Frupor S.A.. Past directorships include Norwegian Cruise Line, Kvaerner ASA, Transocean Inc. and NKT Holding. For his services to industry, the King of Norway awarded Kristian the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 2011. He was also awarded the Légion d’Honneur for Contribution to France. Kristian and his family have always enjoyed classical music.
Winston Wong
Winston was born in Taiwan, and holds degrees in Physics, Applied Optics from Imperial College London, where he is currently a visiting Professor, having also taught at the Business School of the University of California, Berkeley in the past. In 2000 Winston founded Grace Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp. in Shanghai, China. He is also Chair of the Hung Jen Group and of the Grace THW Group, companies invested in electronics industries in mainland China. In 2015 Winston was named in the “Top 100 Chinese for Economic Achievements and Contributions” list by Management World Magazine and he has been a supporter of increased levels of trade cooperation between Taiwan and the West. Outside of his entrepreneurial life, Winston has supported many research and educational programmes at Imperial College, where he helped create the Winston Wong Centre for Bio-Inspired Technology in 2009 and sponsors the Winston Wong Chair in Biomedical Circuits. In 2010, he also supported the Moon-Regan Trans-Antarctic expedition to the South Pole. For all his services to education and research in the UK, Winston was made an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). Over the years Winston has remained close to the classical music world and has accumulated a formidable collection of very fine string instruments.
If you would like to explore new investment opportunities, discuss the Beare’s Stradivari Price Index or hear more about the Beare’s International Violin Society please contact:
Riccardo Lugli
Executive Director
J & A Beare
riccardolugli@beares.com
+44 (0)20 7307 9657
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