Sarasota wealth management firm promotes exec to president

After nearly 20 years with J.L Bainbridge & Company Inc., John Leeming is getting a big promotion: president. 

The Sarasota-based company announced the former senior vice president and chief compliance officer will continue his responsibilities and keep the title of chief compliance officer along with the new role. The family wealth management firm, which just recently celebrated 40 years in business, was co-founded by Jerry Bainbridge, who has served as president, and his wife, Fay Bainbridge. 

“This vote of confidence from Jerry and Fay means the world to me,” Leeming says in a release. “Our clients will recognize a lot of Jerry and Fay’s values and thinking in the way I go about building the firm as we move forward.”

In 2003, Leeming began his time at the firm as a financial adviser. Once he became senior VP, Leeming was responsible for managing portfolios for a group of clients.

“Fay and I are pleased to have promoted John to president of our firm,” says Jerry Bainbridge, who will continue on as CEO. “He has been instrumental in moving our compliance to a much higher level and building the procedures and practices that put the team on the same playing field with improved productivity. His greatest attribute, however, is his dedication to developing all team members to their full potential.”

By the end of 2021, the firm was managing over $950 million in client investments and is now on its way to manage $1 billion or more. 

“These are exciting but challenging times,” Leeming says. “Our clients tend to stay with us for a long time, though, which matches well with our philosophy of investing for the long term to avoid getting caught up in the occasional volatility of the markets. I’m looking forward to helping the firm reach our billion-dollar goal — which would mean our clients are happy — and then build from there.”