Top 50 Brokers 2011: 37th Besso Holdings

Management: Michael Wade became the firm’s executive chairman after buying 15% of Besso in April, making it majority owned by management. He teamed up with private equity firm BP Marsh to buy a 37.3% stake owned by US bank Wells Fargo.

Strategy: Besso is aiming to boost revenues – which were £27.9m for 2009, according to its last reported results – to £25m-£50m over the next five years.