10 On The Weekend – Thomas Anthony: In 5 Years “I’ll Be Retired in the South of Spain, Near The Water”
10 On The Weekend is a weekly (-ish) feature in IMI, the concept of which is simple: Each time, we ask the same ten questions of a different industry figure, letting readers get to know the interviewee on a more personal and informal level than they might in an ordinary business setting.
Our guest this week is Thomas Anthony, CEO of the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Unit.
How do you spend your weekends?
Over the past six months, my weekends have been spent in the office, with the occasional Sunday excursion to the countryside.
What are your top three business goals this year?
- Improved operational efficiency and turnaround time for the Grenada Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).
- Rebrand and reposition the Grenada CIP; and
- Host a regional conference before the end of H1 2024.
What’s your biggest business concern right now?
To complete processing of all 2023 Grenada CIP applications before the end of H1 2024.
Which book is on your nightstand right now?
Spiderweb Capitalism: How Global Elites Exploit Frontier Markets by Kimberly Kay Hoang.
How and when did you first get into the investment migration industry?
In 2013, at the inception of Antigua & Barbuda’s CIP, I had just transitioned from offshore wealth management to my own advisory firm. People like advice but they don’t like paying for it. The Unit published advertisements for multiple positions in the local papers. I thought, “This looks interesting. Perhaps another service I could add to my practice”. A decade later, here we are.
What was your proudest moment as a service provider?
Being scouted by Exiger for the Global Head of the Due Diligence business Unit headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Or meeting citizens who have moved to the country, set up businesses, and contributed to life on the island generally.
Which investment migration market development has surprised you the most in the last year?
The significant growth of the outbound US market.
If you could go ten years back in time, what business decision would you change?
None. I’m having the time of my life from a business/work perspective, and it all started with my decision to enter the investment migration industry ten years ago.
What investment migration industry personality do you most admire?
Kim Marsh, the grandfather of due diligence in the CBI space.
If all goes according to plan, what will you be doing five years from now?
I’ll be retired in the south of Spain near the water!