Founded in 1823, Cazenove & Co. was the most prestigious stockbroking firm in the City of London, celebrated for its fabled placing power and for its unrivalled network of client relationships. Fiercely independent, the firm had always maintained a low profile, shunning the press and refusing to disclose details of its own affairs or those of its clients.
When Big Bang revolutionised the City in 1986, Cazenove was the only one of the major stockbroking partnerships to stand apart from the merger frenzy which followed, rejecting the conventional wisdom of the day and resolutely following its own path. So the City was stunned when, in November 2000, Cazenove announced that it would abandon its partnership structure, raise external capital and list its shares on the London Stock Exchange.
Robert Pickering led the firm, as Chief Executive, throughout this period, working closely with City l
