Paul Winner, one of the Founders and Executive Director of ELSA since its launch in May 2009, is to retire next month.

Paul Winner agreed to organize the European Life Settlement Association after Paul Winner Consultants Ltd, undertook a feasibility study in 2008 to assess whether a new European Trade Association was needed to protect investors interests, to work with European regulators and to ensure self-regulation for this emerging asset class.

Alec Taylor, Chair of ELSA said: “The Life Settlement industry owes Paul Winner a debt of gratitude for his outstanding contribution to raising the profile and reputation of our industry. Having built the tenth largest UK independent PR company which acted for major multinational, UK and European companies, government departments, trade associations including the CBI and IOD, Paul has brought many years of expertise and experience to ELSA’s activities. He leaves ELSA with a robust and active membership and resources for its future growth. Neither I nor our members knew that his retirement in July coincided with his 83rd birthday! I extend my personal thanks to Paul for is dedication over the years, and wish him well in all his future endeavours”.

Paul Winner commented: “I did not expect at 75 to be asked to establish a new European trade association to establish and promote the reputation of US Life Settlements within the continent. It was gratifying to find so many leading participants in the industry ready to devote their time and energy to address the opportunities to establish ‘best practice’ standards to protect investors’ interests. It has been a challenging nine years, and I am grateful for having the opportunity to make a contribution to ELSA’s success and have no doubt about its future. I owe particular thanks to three outstanding Deputy Directors, who made possible the implementation of ELSA’s programme of international Symposia and conferences, specialist committees, education and media activities, and recruiting and serving the leading industry organisations that support ELSA’s challenging mission to attract and protect the interests of investors”.

Note to editors

Paul Winner JP, Fellow of Gray’s Inn, Chair of Paul Winner Consultants Ltd (PWCL) founded Paul Winner Marketing Communications Ltd. His book “Effective PR Management- a guide to corporate success” published by Kogan Page is now in its 9th edition.

He was Director of the successful “Resolve” pilot scheme to settle medical negligence claims set up on partnership with the DOH and the NHSLA, and the “Campaign to Clean up Copier Contracts” , with support from the CBI, the Federation of Small Business and the Consumers Association with Cross party Parliamentary backing.

He has stood for Parliament four times, and advised the CBI on the UK’s access to the single market in 1992 .He has served as Trustee and adviser to many charities including St John’s Ambulance and Action Research.

A prolific artist he was appointed by the Home Office as “Artist at Large” for Holocaust Memorial Day in 2004 and was appointed by the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina as “Artist for the Bridge” at Mostar the same year. Seven of his paintings of Petra were presented to the seven world spiritual leaders for their contribution to peace at the 7 World Conference on Religion and Peace held in Amman, Jordan in 1999. His watercolours of participants of LISA, BVZL and ELSA are available on request.