Kim Sgarlata named in the 2026 eprivateclient Most Influential list

Opera Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Kim Sgarlata, has been named in the 2026 eprivateclient Most Influential list.

The annual list recognises 88 outstanding individuals from nearly 500 nominations who are shaping the future of the UK and global private client sector. Individuals are selected by PAM Insight judges, taking into account achievements, career progression and impact over the preceding 12 months.

Kim’s inclusion reflects both her leadership and the evolution of leadership within the private wealth and capital industry. Together with her team, she is challenging traditional models, embracing innovation, and building a business defined by ambition, quality and deep client partnership.

Since joining Opera in 2023, Kim has overseen the launch of Project Overture, Opera’s five-year transformation strategy. The plan focuses on platform optimisation, sustainable organic growth and selective acquisitions, with the ambition of defining and building a new era of financial services.

Under her leadership, Opera has brought together Accuro (pending regulatory approval), Amber (now Oak Bahamas), HFL, Meritus (pending regulatory approval) and Oak. Opera’s approach centres on long term ownership, patient capital and thoughtful integration, ensuring that each business retains its strengths while benefiting from enhanced operational capability, technology investment and shared expertise.

Commenting on the recognition, Kim Sgarlata said:

“It is a privilege to be included in the 2026 eprivateclient Most Influential list. For me, this recognition reflects the fact that we are doing things differently. We are building Opera with intention. We are privately owned, backed by patient family office capital, and we are focused on long-term value rather than short-term outcomes. We are challenging legacy assumptions about scale, integration and ownership in our sector. We are clear that technology should strengthen relationships, not replace them. Growth should be purposeful, not reactive. And culture must be protected, not diluted. This is not about scale for its own sake. It is about building the right group, with the right values, to serve families, founders, entrepreneurs, and institutions for the decades ahead. Thank you to our team and partners who make this possible every day.”

As Opera enters the next phase of Project Overture, the focus is on thoughtful integration, enhanced collaboration across jurisdictions and continued investment in talent, technology and operational excellence. The ambition is consistent: to build a future-facing financial services group that is globally connected, client centred and grounded in long-term stewardship. 

Kim has over 20 years of experience in financial services.  She previously held senior leadership roles at HSBC, including Global Head of Strategic Program Development and Global Head of Wholesale Transformation. Earlier in her career, she was a Partner at Capco , a global management consultancy, and held roles at Accenture, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and State Street. Her experience spans large-scale transformation, strategic operating model design and embedding ESG-linked behavioural change across complex financial institutions. Always with people at the centre.  

Kim’s inclusion in the 2026 list underscores the impact of her leadership and the role Opera is playing in reshaping the private client landscape. 

Follow Kim's progress on LinkedIn: Kim Sgarlata