Our history

The history of Unsworth & Associates stretches from 1979 until the present day…

1979

Founder moves to the Netherlands

Jim Unsworth moves to the Netherlands at the invitation of his employer, a Canadian building materials & financial services conglomerate, to establish a Dutch holding company for the purposes of holding U.S. investments of the Canadian parent company.

1988

Operations established on the Herengracht

The office at Herengracht 483 will serve some of Canada’s largest and most prestigious companies and pension funds over the next 30 years.

1991

Current Principal moves to the Netherlands

Brad Unsworth arrives in the Netherlands and tells his wife that it will be for “just one year and then we’ll go back to Canada…”

December 1992

Incorporation

A management services company, JMB International B.V., was incorporated to provide substance operations, initially, to Canadian corporate clients.

August 1993

Incorporation

Incorporation of U & A Liquidators N.V., a designated entity to handle the liquidation of Dutch entities.

July 1999

New business name

Unsworth & Associates B.V. incorporated, taking over the active business from JMB International B.V.

December 1999

Branching out

Luxembourg office opened followed by Geneva the next year (Geneva office closed in 2010).

April 2005

DNB license

U&A receives DNB license in Netherlands.

January 2010

CSSF license

U&A receives CSSF license in Luxembourg.

October 2016

Moving further along the canal

U&A moves to current office address at Herengracht 540, Amsterdam, next to the Waldorf Astoria hotel.

June 2018

Appointment of U&A Managing Director

Duncan Rennie is appointed as Managing Director of U&A. With a wealth of experience in finance, accounting, and business development, Duncan is well-equipped to lead the company into its next phase of growth. His proven track record in driving strategic business initiatives, combined with his deep financial acumen, positions him to effectively oversee operations and identify new opportunities for expansion. Duncan’s leadership is expected to enhance U&A’s financial performance and foster long-term success across all areas of the business.

January 2024

Sustainability services launched

Partnered with a software platform, we can evaluate double materiality for CSRD and CSDDD reporting standards. Initially supporting existing clients with their Sustainability reporting needs, now services are expanded to new clients with specific ESG requirements throughout Europe.

April 2024

Transfer Agent & Registrar License application process started in Luxembourg

Application to extend our existing PSF license to allow us to service Investment Funds in Luxembourg.

January 2025

Appointment of U&A Managing Director

Laetitia Martin is appointed as Managing Director of U&A. Laetitia brings a dynamic blend of leadership experience and strategic insight to the role, with a strong focus on driving innovation and operational excellence. With a background in managing high-performance teams and executing growth strategies, she is well-positioned to lead U&A through its next phase of development. Laetitia’s expertise in cultivating long-term business partnerships and optimizing operational efficiencies will be key in advancing the company’s vision and securing its competitive edge in the industry.

March 2025

Appointment of Country Head – Luxembourg

Willem Arnoud van Rooyen is appointed as Luxembourg’s Country Head and will take on full responsibility for operations, both Funds and Corporate, at Unsworth & Associates Sarl.

Apart from bringing a wealth of leadership experience in the funds industry, Willem has a strong business development pedigree and organisational skills that benefit the organisation. 

Scroll to Top