gr8 communications was established in 2006 by Anne Banks, a seasoned marketing/communications professional with 20 years experience in the asset management industry and more than 20 years marketing experience in total within financial services. Anne's knowledge and understanding of the global investment industry is one of the key reasons clients choose to work with gr8 communications.

Prior to setting up gr8 communications, Anne was Senior Vice-President of International Marketing for a leading global equity manager, Bank of Ireland Asset Management ("BIAM"). From the firm's Greenwich, Connecticut office, she led the team that created and implemented the marketing and communications strategy for BIAM's international operations in the U.K., Germany, Japan, Australia, the United States and Canada. She was also a member of the firm's International Management Team, which defined and drove the broader business strategy for the firm's growing international business—a business whose assets under management grew from just a few hundred million dollars in 1990, to over $40 billion by 2003, and in 2004 was ranked as the largest foreign manager of active international equities for U.S. institutional investors*.
(* Source: Pensions & Investments, May 2004.)

Anne holds a B.A. Economics (magna cum laude) from Trinity College, Dublin and the Certified Diploma in Accounting & Finance (Bronze Medal Winner) from the Association of Chartered Certified Accounts. She is presently an active member of the Connecticut education committee of 100 Women in Hedge Funds and a member of the New York-based, Women's Investment Management Forum.