Pepper Anderson had not taken a call from a recruiter in 22 years, but a call from Richard Chilton last November caught her attention.
An industry veteran, Anderson said she had been familiar with Chilton throughout her professional experience as an investor, but not knowing what her next step would be, she did not feel the urgency to pursue a move, she said.
But, this call was different. “I felt an open mindedness that I hadn’t experienced in the past,‘’ she said. “And over many months and many rounds of interviews, I got to know them personally and vice versa,’’ she said, referring to the leaders at the privately owned wealth management company.
With nearly three decades of experience in the financial services industry, Anderson on Tuesday was named president and CEO of the New York-based Chilton Trust, which has offices in Palm Beach, Fla., Stamford, Conn., Charlotte, N.C., and Wilmington, Del.
The firm has roughly 70 employees with $4.75 billion in asset under management.
She succeeds Garrison Likle, who will become vice chairman and continue to work closely with clients in support of their financial needs and long-term objectives, according to a prepared statement from the company. He will remain in the Palm Beach office where the firm’s fiduciary business is located.
“This leadership transition is part of a carefully planned for and calibrated strategy that we believe is necessary to continue providing our clients with the service and experience they expect. Pepper has the vision and leadership to advance what Gary and I have built and is the right individual to take Chilton Trust to even greater heights,” said Chilton, the firm’s founder, chairman and chief investment officer of equities.
Anderson, who began her career after college with Bear Stearns on the equity desk as an assistant, spent more than 20 years with J.P. Morgan Private Bank, where she most recently served as managing director and market manager for Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y. She held roles across a high net worth and fiduciary.
In her new role, Anderson said there are a few goals she would like to accomplish but she has yet to reveal them because “I owe Richard my 100-day plan as he refers to it, so I will keep the surprise in store,’’ she said.
In the meantime, though, she said between now and the end of the year she would like to hit the road and get to know clients and let them get to know her and spend time with them and listen to their feedback. Also, she said she would like to invest time in getting to know the team and making sure that she understands all their goals.