Michael has 40 years experience in the insurance industry. He is an Independent Financial Adviser and a highly experienced Financial Planner. He sits on the boards of a number of United Kingdom companies in the manufacturing and service sectors.
He acts on behalf of individuals and groups of venture capital providers who invest in innovative businesses throughout the world and who seek investment opportunities in New Zealand.
Current Interests
Shield Estates UK Ltd Chairman
The company, based in Sheffield, specialises in carrying out property development and providing consultative services to United Kingdom industrial companies, major developers and land owners. Owned jointly by Michael and his brother, Peter.
SME Financial Services Ltd Chairman
The company is a Registered Financial Advisor in the United Kingdom providing investment advice to small and medium sized enterprises and wealthy personal investors. This company, based in Sheffield, and SME Insurance Services Limited, are the successor companies formed following the reformation of several generations of Shield family partnerships.
SMEi New Zealand Ltd Director
The company was set up in New Zealand to review and develop investment opportunities for United Kingdom based investors. It provides advice to New Zealand businesses on how to develop, secure and protect their intellectual property assets before bringing in outside investors or before they attempt to sell their products or services in international markets.
Sheffield Express Business Travel Ltd Chairman
Michael is the co-founder and provided the funding for the company which specialises in providing business travellers with all the services need to conduct their business abroad.
Hawley Optical Ltd Chairman
Hawley Optical manufactures high quality computer controlled lenses for the ophthalmic industry.
Tinsley Bridge (Holdings) Ltd Director
Tinsley Bridge, a company based in Sheffield, is a technical leader in the field of commercial vehicle suspension design and manufacture.
Rochester Airport plc Director
Rochester Airport is situated south east of London at Chatham, Kent. During the Second World War it was used by Shorts for the construction of aircraft. After the war it became an RAF training and flying school and a regional airport before reverting to an airport for general aviation operations.
Daleswear Ltd
Michael is a major investor in Daleswear which specialises in the design and manufacture of outdoor, mountaineering and “hard work” clothing. He is also a major investor in Elad Estates which built the premises occupied by Daleswear.
The Phoenix Trust, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust.
Michael acts as a project consultant and advisor to the Trust and its partners. The Phoenix Trust, launched by its President, HRH The Prince of Wales, in 1997 seeks to repair and find new uses for major historic buildings in the United Kingdom.
Past Business interests include:
SME Insurance Services Ltd, Chairman of the company until the Shield family interests were sold in October 2007. This company, based in Leeds, was formed when the family company of BH Shield and Co acquired several other insurance brokers and their clients.
Sheffield City Airport: Director, co-founder and developer of the airport that opened in 1997. It and the London City Airport are the only newly built airports to open in the United Kingdom in over 50 years.
Mistley Maltings Trust: Founding Company Secretary. This trust working with the Phoenix Trust, redeveloped an important listed (Grade II) building in Mistley, Essex.
