In 2023 we celebrated an important milestone in PwC Channel Islands' history. Our 100th anniversary. This was a significant occasion for everyone who belongs to the PwC family across the Channel Islands, from the people at the heart of our business, to our clients, our former colleagues and the wider local communities across Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.
Our history in the Channel Islands stems all the way back to the early 1920s in Jersey, when Jack Thomas Amy Willcox qualified as a Chartered Accountant after WW1. Upon qualification, he set up his plate, Willcox and Co, and commenced to practice accountancy in Barclays Bank Chambers, Library Place, St Helier.
During our 100 years of building trust and solving some of the most complex issues for organisations, much has changed not only within our local firm, but in the Channel Islands and across the wider world. Follow our timeline from 1923 to 2023 day, and discover how resilience and embracing change have enabled us, and our clients, to adapt to an ever changing world.
Not only was this an opportunity to look back and celebrate, but also it was a chance for us to look ahead and reflect upon our role in the future, as we explore the range of exciting possibilities that await us, together.
100 years of building trust in the Channel Islands
At the start of the roaring '20s Jack Thomas Amy Willcox set up Willcox and Co in Jersey - Willcox & Co, Chartered Accountants, Barclay Bank Chambers in Library Place.
At the same time the BBC was established in London.
WWII
On 30 June 1940 the Channel Islands were invaded and then occupied by German forces. During the war, Willcox & Co ticked over, while some partners left the island to fight.
Before the Occupation, Willcox & Co had Guernsey based clients, but during the Occupation, some Guernsey firms were approached to take over the clients and this meant we no longer had a client presence there.
The five-year occupation came to an end on 9 May 1945 – Liberation Day.
In the early 1950s the prosperous, thriving agricultural trade with agricultural merchants were based on the Esplanade in Jersey.
The Channel Islands Co-operative Society was formed.
Willcox & Co moved to first floor, Martins Bank Chambers in Jersey and shortly after PG Blampied became a salaried Partner at the firm, joining Partners Jack Milburn and Bernard Bailhache.
In Jersey, Jack Willcox retired on 30 December 1960 and sadly passed away in April 1961.
Jack Millburn became Senior Partner.
Rather than pay rent to Martin's Bank Chambers, who had doubled the rent to £1500, the firm moved Jersey office and the first La Motte Chambers, bordering La Motte Street was built.
The States of Jersey started issuing modern notes and coins on a regular basis in July 1963 and, since then, the series of notes has been replaced every twelve years or so.
London firm Cooper Brothers merges with Willcox and Co. in Jersey to become known as 'Cooper Brothers and Co and Willcox and Co'.
PG Blampied is appointed Senior Partner.
By 1968 the staff headcount in Jersey was 61.
On the 1st of February the Guernsey office of 'Cooper Brothers and Co and Willcox and Co' is opened and the Senior Partner in Guernsey is Godfrey Vines.
The same year as Neil Armstrong landed on the moon.
Jersey established a prominent funds industry in the 1970s when leading fund management groups set up offices in Jersey to develop and promote products to UK expatriates and other international investors.
Jersey Senior Partner Peter Blampied was instrumental setting up the Jersey Society of Chartered and Certified Accountants (JSCCA) that year after the formation of the GSCCA in 1972.
Jersey Senior Partner Peter Blampied retired on 30 June.
In 1978 Leslie Crapp was appointed as Jersey Senior Partner.
By the early 80s Jersey was the first jurisdiction to bring trust and company service providers within a regulatory regime by passing the Jersey Trust Law.
The Guernsey Financial Services Commision (GFSC) was established.
Jersey Senior Partner Leslie Crapp retired and Jersey Senior Partner Geoffrey Grime was appointed.
Globally, Coopers & Lybrand merges with Deloitte Haskins & Sells. In Guernsey, the local representation of these newly merged firms moved into NatWest House, Le Truchot.
Abacus separated from Coopers & Lybrand. Shortly after the split, Philip Taylor and David Hill became joint Senior Partners of Coopers & Lybrand.
MONEYVAL was established, which is the Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism.
Worldwide merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand to create PricewaterhouseCoopers. This created a global firm with 8,500 partners and 136,500 staff.
The Jersey Financial Services Commision (JFSC) was established.
The Channel Islands Stock Exchange, now known as The Channel Islands Securities Exchange Authority Limited, operating as The International Stock Exchange Authority (TISE), was founded in 1998 and headquartered in St Peter Port, Guernsey with offices in Jersey and the Isle of Man.
At the start of the new millenium, Jersey Finance was founded to promote Jersey as an international finance centre globally.
Guernsey Finance, now branded as WE ARE GUERNSEY, was founded in 2001.
Alderney's only radio station Quay FM was founded.
Guernsey hosted the 2003 Island Games in June. The Games were opened by King Charles, then the Prince of Wales.
Guernsey won 128 medals, compared to Jersey’s 115. It was the first time Guernsey had ever won the Island Games.
With many technical and digital advances both globally and locally, JT launched its first wireless hotspots in Jersey while, globally, Apple launched its first iphone, changing the way we access information.
In 2007 Steve le Page is appointed Senior Partner, based in Guernsey.
PricewaterhouseCoopers' Guernsey office moved from NatWest House, Le Truchot to Royal Bank Place, 1 Glategny Esplanade.
Globally, PricewaterhouseCoopers formally shortens its brand name to PwC but legally remains PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In December, PwC's Jersey office moved from 22 Colomberie to 37 Esplanade.
Brendan McMahon is appointed Senior Partner at PwC Channel Islands.
PwC opened an office in Alderney.
PwC Channel Islands 'went Google' in 2016.
Senior Partner Brendan McMahon retired and Simon Perry was appointed as Senior Partner, based in Guernsey.
JT introduces Jersey Full Fibre Connected Living. At the same time, PwC Channel Islands launched 'Mobile First' (no more landlines).
In March 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to work from home. PwC CI had 'gone Google' a few years before and all staff had their own laptops and mobiles. This meant staff were fully supported, and technically equipped to carry on seamlessly working from home. It also meant the firm was able to step in to support the network with delivering audits across the globe during these challenging times.
PwC's new global strategy, The New Equation, was introduced as the global network continued to build trust, deliver sustained outcomes and help clients solve their most important problems by combining human ingenuity and understanding with the right technology.
Simon Perry retired and Nick Vermeulen was appointed as Senior Partner in January, based in Guernsey.
PwC Channel Islands celebrates 100 years of building trust in the Channel Islands. PwC will continue to learn with purpose, lead with heart and make a positive impact on the world as we, and our 550 staff, look forward to the next 100 years.
Celebrating 100 years of building trust in the Channel
