YPG Member Testimonials
Aberdeen Asset Management is a global asset management company headquartered in Aberdeen, Scotland but with offices all over the world. I am part of the institutional business development team, focusing on relationship management with our endowment and foundation clients. Philadelphia is Aberdeen’s home office in the US, so if I was going to move here, it was really Philadelphia or nothing! It’s a great city to live and work in and definitely underappreciated from the outside. We have also found the people really friendly and welcoming. I moved here from Sydney, Australia; Claire, my wife, loves having seasons, particularly snow at Christmas — she never really felt like it was Christmas in the sunshine, having a barbie on the beach!
– Toby Wallace, Senior Relationship Manager, Endowments & Foundations, Aberdeen Asset Management
The Welsh Government is based at the British Consulate General in New York. We work as an international development agency supporting bilateral trade between the US and the UK. I have lived in the states for over 15 years and moved down to Philadelphia five years ago, although my now husband had lived there for two years previously. I loved the city and all it has to offer! We were able to buy a house and raise a family; we were unsure if this was possible especially with needing space for kids and a garage. We have noticed a lot of development in the area and hope this continues. I now have two young children who enjoy the many different parks and playgrounds. We live a short walk to Rittenhouse Square and you can often find us grabbing a coffee, meal or glass of wine in the many varied restaurants surrounding the area. Even though we miss our family from the UK, the city and all its young children have created a second family.
– Janine Murphy, Project Manager, Welsh Government
I moved over here with work from Scotland; the team I worked for in the UK was expanding in the US and this gave me the opportunity to assist with that. Being able to give the team here some insight into how processes worked in the UK to ensure global continuity was a great opportunity. I have been here from 18 months; I have enjoyed living in Philadelphia! It has a big city feel, but is a small walkable city with lots to do culturally and socially. There is so much to do in Philadelphia, including live sports, great restaurants and lots of different sights. It’s a great location without living in the hustle and bustle of a New York style city. It is easy to travel to other cities from Philadelphia, whether it be NYC, Washington D.C, Boston or even further afield (both US and international).
– Claire Drummond, Compliance Officer, Aberdeen Asset Management
Having spent a year studying abroad in Australia I was looking for overseas opportunities when a friend referred me to CIGNA who had opportunities for Actuaries within their development program based in Philadelphia. I found the opportunity and the city of Philadelphia to be challenging and interesting; the biggest positives of Philadelphia are the excellent bar and restaurant scene, and the relatively cheap cost of living.
– Keith Swan, Global Finance Director, Global Health Benefits, CIGNA
I got the opportunity to move to Philadelphia with my company. Well, originally I was supposed to be relocated to New York but while waiting for my visa we closed our NY office and I was then headed for Sunny Philadelphia! After 7 years I love living in Philly and much prefer it to New York! I live in Center City so it is fantastic to walk to and from work and being so close to the Jersey Shore is also another big advantage on the hot summer weekends. My biggest challenge is trying not to go out to eat in the fabulous Philly restaurants every night!
– Maree Mitchell, Senior Equality Specialist, Aberdeen Asset Management
