# Ground Control adds London firm serving sports and media clients

URL: https://www.financialadvsr.com/article/ground-control-adds-london-firm-serving-sports-and-media-73ec30
Published: October 21, 2026
By: Vivian Cole, Deals Correspondent
Section: Deals
Publisher: Financial ADVSR (https://www.financialadvsr.com)

Wealthspire's Ground Control unit has acquired London-based Atlantic Swiss, which oversees more than $1 billion for media and sports clients, according to WealthManagement.com.

WealthManagement.com reported on October 20 that Ground Control Business Management, a Wealthspire division whose entertainment and sports unit is expanding its U.K. footprint, has acquired Atlantic Swiss, a London-based wealth manager. According to WealthManagement.com, Atlantic Swiss oversees more than $1 billion for clients in media and sports. Citywire RIA covered the same transaction on the same day, describing Atlantic Swiss as a London firm that works with clients in the creative and sports industries.

The deal was announced through a Business Wire release issued October 20, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. EDT. The release puts Atlantic Swiss at more than $1 billion (£800 million) in assets under management and administration. That figure measures client assets, not the purchase price, and the sources reviewed do not disclose what Wealthspire paid. Financial Advisor reported, citing the press release, that the transaction closed on October 1. Berkshire Global Advisors advised Wealthspire on the deal.

According to the release, According to the release, the firm's core work is planning and investment management for a largely British and Western European client base, with a particular focus on people working in film, TV, sport, music and fashion. The firm describes its approach as a family CFO model that combines planning and investment management. The release says the firm has more than 20 employees, including eight advisors. Founder Craig Bell will remain with the firm as president. WealthManagement.com describes Bell as founding partner and CEO, so the titles differ between the two accounts. Atlantic Swiss's website states that its work with sport, media and entertainment clients dates back to the early 2000s.

Ground Control's U.K. business has offices in London and the Midlands, WealthManagement.com reported. Nick Parkinson is president of the U.K. division, according to the release. Chris Bucci is chief executive of Ground Control and Mike LaMena is chief executive of Wealthspire, according to the release and a separate Business Wire announcement. Financial Advisor reported that Wealthspire's Sports & Entertainment practice launched earlier in October 2026 with nearly $3 billion in assets, according to Wealthspire. Wealthspire says its footprint spans North America and the U.K., and that it employs over 1,200 people across more than 40 offices.

Wealthspire's ownership history is also part of the background. Chicago-based Madison Dearborn Partners agreed to buy Wealthspire and related wealth businesses from Aon for $2.7 billion, a purchase price rather than an asset figure. Wealthspire says that transaction finished on October 30, 2025. InvestmentNews reported that Wealthspire was formed in 2019 when NFP combined Sontag Advisory of New York and Bronfman Rothschild of Maryland.

InvestmentNews reported that Atlantic Swiss followed Ground Control's October 2024 purchase of Clay GBP, and that the June 2, 2026 Arena Wealth deal also placed a U.K. firm in the group's portfolio. Earlier in 2026, Ground Control bought Ceres Financial Management of Los Angeles in January and RSL and Company, a Los Angeles business management firm, in May. On June 2, it acquired Arena Wealth, a U.K. firm serving professional golfers, and 15 Arena employees joined. The pattern is a series of acquisitions in specific client niches, with the U.K. entertainment and sports market now a recurring focus. The sources reviewed do not describe integration plans for Atlantic Swiss beyond the founder's continuing role and the staff figures in the release.

Key facts:
- Atlantic Swiss has more than $1 billion (£800 million) in assets under management and administration, per its Business Wire release.
- The transaction closed on October 1, according to the press release as reported by Financial Advisor.
- Atlantic Swiss has more than 20 employees, including eight advisors, according to the release.
- Wealthspire operates across the U.S., Canada and the U.K., with more than 1,200 employees in over 40 offices, per Wealthspire.
- Madison Dearborn's $2.7 billion agreement to buy Wealthspire from Aon finished on October 30, 2025, according to Wealthspire.

Why it matters: For advisors and team leaders, the deal shows a large platform building specialist practices around particular client sectors rather than only broad markets. Firms that serve entertainment and sports clients often depend on a few senior relationships, so retaining founders and advisors is usually central to the value of such a deal. Recruiters and firm executives should watch whether the combined practice draws talent or clients from the Ground Control and Wealthspire sports and entertainment platform.

Sources:
- WealthManagement.com: https://www.wealthmanagement.com/ria-news/ground-control-acquires-atlantic-swiss-wealth-firm
- Citywire RIA: https://citywire.com/ria/news/wealthspire-buys-1bn-uk-advice-firm-focused-on-celebrity-clients/a2501549
- lincolnjournal.com: https://www.lincolnjournal.com/online_features/press_releases/wealthspire-s-ground-control-business-management-acquires-london-based-atlantic-swiss/article_5b01026f-e3bc-5d9a-a5a8-9281ec9d8457.html
- financialcontent.com: https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-10-20-wealthspires-ground-control-business-management-acquires-london-based-atlantic-swiss
- fa-mag.com: https://www.fa-mag.com/news/wealthspire-s-ground-control-unit-buys--1b-aum-atlantic-swiss-88884.html
- businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512906159/en/Wealthspires-Ground-Control-Business-Management-Acquires-RSL-and-Company
- unbiased.co.uk: https://www.unbiased.co.uk/profile/financial-adviser/atlantic-swiss-526480