Paul Facey MBA, GAICD

CEO, MD and Founder

REEF Co was founded by Paul Facey in 2007.

In commerce, Paul has more than 20 years global financial markets experience with companies such as Merrill Lynch and Rothschild.

Merrill Lynch - Wall Street behemoth

Merrill Lynch was previously the largest multi-national stockbroking company in the world with head office on Wall Street in New York and regional offices in major financial centres around the globe. By the early 2000's the "thundering herd" managed over US$2 trillion in client assets and hundreds of billions in corporate assets. The company was acquired by Bank of America in 2008.

At Merrill Lynch Paul was:

• Managing Director (First Vice President)

• Head of Tourism, Leisure and Gaming Research in Australia and Asia

• Head of Small Company Research in Australia

• Manager in Charge of the Queensland Office

Paul performed an annual marketing trip (plus 2 IPOs) presenting to the world's largest institutional investors in New York, LA, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. He won a plethora of stockbroking industry awards (Peter Lee/ Greenwich, BRW Magazine, Wall Street Search, Merrill Lynch) and is considered Australia's most successful Tourism, Leisure and Gaming Analyst.

In academia, Paul graduated first in his MBA class at the University of Queensland Business School, winning the Sir Lionel McCray Prize for highest GPA and the Carlton United Brewery Prize for Economics.

In sport, Paul set a World Indoor Rowing Record rowing the marathon in 2022 (his age group, slides). In the same year, he set 10 Australian indoor rowing records (his age group, slides). He is currently in-training to break the 100m world record. He was the first male to represent Australia in the World Rowing Indoor Championships (Paris 2020).

In the arts, Paul's family history is documented in the award-winning book, "A Fortunate Life" with more than 1 million copies sold. The book was also made into a Channel 9 TV mini-series and is currently a Stage Play. The book was written by Paul's great uncle, A.B Facey in 1981and provides insight into life in Australia in the 1900s including the Great Depression and the war in Gallipoli. It also chronicles the death of Paul's great grandfather, Roy Facey at Gallipoli.

In history, The name Facey is derived from the place name Vassy in Calvados, Normandy, France. Following the battle of Hastings in 1066, Norman knights Robert and Ivo de Vassy were granted lordships in England for their service to William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, the name evolved into several spelling variations including Facey. As the family spread, branches settled across the British Isles, particularly in England and Ireland. The Latin Sub Hoc Signo Vinces translates to: Beneath this sign we conquer.

Rothschild - A Global Financial Dynasty

During the 19th century, the Rothschild family held the largest private fortune in modern world history. The family patriarch, Mayer Amschel Rothschild established a banking business in Germany in the 1700s and sent his five sons (the five arrows) to the major financial centres of Europe - Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Naples and Paris. Nathan Mayer Rothschild was sent to London and established the successful NM Rothschild & Sons merchant banking business.

Paul worked in the Investment team at Rothschild Australia Asset Management which operated as the asset management arm of NM Rothschild in London. His investment focus was the global fixed interest bond market and foreign currency opportunities.