News & Press - Monday, February 23, 2009 15:32 - 0 Comments

World First doubles in size in Australasia

Sydney office opened to extend foreign exchange services to Australian clients

Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Monday 23 February – World First, the foreign exchange broker, today announced that it has opened a new office in Sydney in order to provide foreign exchange services to individuals and businesses based in Australia.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission lays down very strict rules regarding how Australian residents are serviced so World First has opened an operation in Australia that not only ensures compliance with this regulation but, by being local, also allows the company to deliver its trademark ‘exceptional client service’ to all clients based in Australia.

Jonathan Quin, director, said, “Opening the office in Australia is an important development in our aim to become a truly global, 24-hour business. Coupled with the round-the-clock service we can now offer clients, this expansion provides us with a superior level of insight into the personal and business issues facing people in this part of the world. As a result, we can provide a better service and adapt our business processes to always ensure client centricity.”

The Sydney office is headed up by Nick Robinson, joint founding director with Jonathan Quin. Nick is supported by Joe McKenna, who was formerly Corporate Sales Manager in the UK office to help set up the Australian corporate business. This new office also bolsters World First’s presence in Australasia by complementing the New Zealand office, which was opened in Hamilton in 2006 and has also recently doubled in size.  To read more about the Australia office click here.

World First, headquartered in the UK has seen very fast growth since the launch of its foreign exchange services in April 2004. The last 12 months have seen staff numbers almost double, with the company moving to new offices in London in December 2008 to support this growth.

Ends

Further comment and quotes can be provided by:

Jonathan Quin, director

Nick Robinson, director

Please contact Wendy Casterton direct on 020 7801 1060 or email wendy.casterton@worldfirst.com

About World First:

World First is a currency exchange broker, serving both private and corporate clients. Set up in 2004 by directors Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson, the company is experiencing very fast growth and now employs over 60 people in three offices (London, UK, Sydney, Australia and Hamilton, New Zealand). It has 20,000 clients and transacted over £1 billion in 2008.

World First’s corporate clients are generally import or export companies, making regular transfers. World First helps them minimise their exchange rate risk and manage their currency exposure.

Private clients largely use broker services to purchase a property abroad, usually a second home or investment or to emigrate.

World First is also now offering currency options to SMEs and private clients through World First Markets Ltd, which is authorised and regulated in the UK by the FSA. World First is the first and currently only broker to offer currency options which have, until now, been the preserve of very large corporate organisations through their banks.