We recently had the opportunity to interview Gareth Hazelden, Founding Partner and Director at Atlantic Capital Markets. Over the past decade, Gareth has leveraged his expertise at the firm, delivering sharp execution, trusted relationships, and a personal approach to a wide range of financial services. Passionate about making the future of financial markets more connected globally, Gareth Hazelden’s focus is clear: to deliver results with expertise, agility, and a sharp entrepreneurial edge.
The Beginning
We started the interview by asking, “Can you walk us through your professional journey and what inspired you to start your business?”
Gareth Hazelden shared, “My career in financial markets started on the advisory and sales side, where I quickly realised that relationships — not algorithms — drive real client success. I founded Atlantic Capital Markets to bring back that ‘relationship-based’ service ethos that had been lost in the online trading boom.
From day one, my vision was to combine cutting-edge trading technology with old-school client service — genuine conversations, tailored strategies, and transparency. Starting from a small office in Cornwall, we grew into an award-winning FCA-regulated multi-asset brokerage with clients across the UK and beyond.”
Values at the Root of Gareth Hazelden’s Venture
We further asked, “What guiding vision and values have shaped your company’s mission and growth over the years?”
“Our guiding value has always been trust. Everything at Atlantic Capital Markets is built on three core principles: transparency — clients deserve clear, honest guidance; no jargon, no hidden agendas. We believe in quality performance, as we treat every trade and client relationship as if it were our own money. And lastly, partnership is paramount, because long-term relationships come before short-term wins.
These values have shaped how we hire, how we advise, and how we build our products. Whether we’re onboarding a private client in London or preparing for our UAE launch, our mission is to bring human expertise back into modern trading,” Gareth explained.
Balancing Goals with Challenges
Regardless of the field, balance is the key to success. So, we asked, “How do you balance long-term goals with short-term business challenges?”
Gareth Hazelden mentioned, “Running a regulated brokerage means you’re constantly balancing immediate market conditions with long-term strategic goals. My approach is simple: plan long, execute short.
We build long-term structures — strong compliance frameworks, technology partnerships, and brand identity — but make agile, data-driven decisions day-to-day. I’ve learned to treat short-term challenges as feedback loops that help refine the bigger plan.
Having a great team also makes that balance possible. My business partner, John Woolfitt, and our wider network of traders, introducers, and compliance professionals allow me to stay focused on vision and strategy while keeping execution tight.”
Navigating through Uncertainties
Challenges are a part of every professional journey. To learn more, we asked Gareth Hazelden to share the major challenges he faced and how he overcame them.
“The biggest challenge was building credibility from the ground up in a highly regulated, competitive industry. When you start outside of London, it’s easy for people to underestimate you. We turned that into a strength — proving that great service and expertise can come from anywhere.
Every obstacle — from market volatility to red tape — has ultimately sharpened our edge. It’s part of why we’re so resilient today,” Gareth reflected.
Embracing Innovative Solutions
Intrigued to learn more about the innovative practices at Gareth Hazelden’s company, we asked, “How do you integrate innovation and technology to stay ahead in your industry?”
Gareth Hazelden commented, “Innovation is central to everything we do — but it has to serve the client, not replace the relationship. At Atlantic Capital Markets, we’ve consistently invested in cutting-edge trading platforms, AI-driven analytics, and seamless client dashboards to give traders faster, smarter access to markets. At the same time, we’ve built systems that maintain that human advisory touch — instant communication, personalised strategy calls, and research that’s actually actionable.
The key is balance: technology amplifies what good people do, but it should never replace good people.”
Fostering Strong Connections
We also asked, “What strategies do you use to maintain strong customer and employee engagement?”
Gareth Hazelden mentioned, “Our culture is built on accessibility and empowerment. Clients can always reach a real person — not a chatbot or call centre queue. That direct access builds trust and loyalty.
Internally, I make sure everyone — from our traders to our marketing team — understands why we do what we do. We don’t just execute trades; we build relationships that last years. We celebrate client wins, recognise great work, and encourage ownership at every level.
For employees, engagement comes from autonomy and visibility — they see the results of their effort in real time, and they know their ideas matter. For clients, engagement comes from consistency, trust, and the feeling that they’re part of something genuinely elite yet personal.”
Triumphs at the Journey
Intrigued to learn the milestone or achievement that highlights Atlantic Capital Markets’ growth and progress, we requested Gareth Hazelden to share a glimpse of the same.
“Atlantic Capital Markets has continued to grow organically through referrals — the best sign of trust in this industry. We’ve also won multiple industry awards, which is always gratifying because it reflects the consistency of our service and client results,” he added.
Message to Young Professionals
Addressing the beginners in his field, we asked Gareth Hazelden, “What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs entering your field?”
“First — learn the rules before you try to rewrite them. The financial world rewards creativity, but only when it’s built on a foundation of integrity and compliance.
Second — build relationships, not just revenues. The strongest businesses in finance are built on trust and reputation, not quick wins.
And third — outwork everyone. There’s no shortcut to credibility. Study the regulations, know your products inside out, and be the most prepared person in any room.
Most importantly — find your why. If you’re only in it for money, you’ll burn out. But if you’re driven by creating something lasting — a brand, a legacy, a standard — then the hard work becomes your competitive edge,” Gareth shared.
Crafting a Strong Legacy
Lastly, we asked, “How would you like your business to be remembered in the years to come?”
Gareth Hazelden responded, “I want Atlantic Capital Markets to be remembered as a firm that raised the bar for what client service in trading should look like — combining old-school integrity with next-generation innovation.
When people look back, I want them to say Atlantic Capital Markets built something real: transparent, personal, and world-class.
More than anything, I’d like the legacy to be about trust, performance, and people — that we built relationships and results that genuinely changed how clients think about trading and investment.”
Connect with Gareth Hazelden on LinkedIn to gain industry insights, and to learn more about Atlantic Capital Markets visit LinkedIn and https://atlanticmarkets.co.uk/
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