Name: Naro Zimmerman
Title: Director and Head of Dubai
When did you join JTC?
2020
Where did you previously live and you relocate to?
Guernsey, moved to Dubai
“JTC was very, very supportive particularly with me because at the time of moving, my partner was pregnant and we were going to be moving with a newborn child…”
What was the opportunity, and why was it appealing to you?
The opportunity was to relocate to Dubai to head up the office for JTC. It was appealing because I hadn’t lived anywhere else apart from Guernsey previously, so it was a good opportunity for me and my family to experience a different part of the world.
How supportive was JTC during your transition?
JTC was very, very supportive particularly with me because at the time of moving, my partner was pregnant and we were going to be moving with a newborn child, so I think more so than usual that the teams in Jersey and the UAE were incredibly supportive. We, as a family, were really taken care of.
What is the No. 1 thing to see/do in your new jurisdiction?
The #1 to see and do in the UAE is a tough one because there’s a lot of amazing sights such as the Burj Khalifa or going to the beach every weekend.
How did your family and friends feel about the move?
Being honest, I wasn’t too popular initially because my partner’s an only child and we had a daughter on the way, so when we said were moving overseas and taking away their first grandchild, I definitely was not the most popular man of the house. After they’d taken the news on board, they were just excited for us as a family and what it was going to give us both for my career and to explore a new family in a different part of the world
What lessons did you learn from this experience?
No matter how much you plan for the move, there’s always stuff that comes up unexpected, both good and bad, so you have to try to stay relaxed. I think moving in the middle of a pandemic was especially challenging, but the main thing I repeated to my partner is to try to stay relaxed and we luckily had a new newborn to distract us from some of the things that might have caused us to worry.
What was the big highlight?
The way of life is fantastic actually for us as a family and what we get to experience. For me personally, it’s been fantastic to experience a different jurisdiction and the nuances that this brings. We are living in a part of the world that has Sharia law and Civil law as their main laws, which is different to where I’m from, so that’s been interesting to experience.
Any downside?
Given the last 12 months, one of the downsides is not being able to freely see family as we would have done normally. They haven’t been out to visit and see us, and also missed out on their granddaughter growing up, which is a shame.
Why do you think the international experience that Gateway offers is important?
It’s important because JTC is an international organization that continues to grow and I’m sure there will be other jurisdictions globally that will be added in the not-too-distant future. Gateway gives JTC employees an opportunity to experience firsthand different jurisdictions, which is also helpful for our client relationships and benefit the Group.
What advice would you give someone considering a career at JTC?
A) Do it. B) JTC delivers on their promises. When I was speaking with JTC initially before I joined, I was told a lot about the opportunities that a career at JTC would bring. I certainly experienced those from initially starting at Guernsey and then moving overseas quite quickly with the Group. It’s filled with opportunities and if there’s someone who is proactive, the opportunities will be present themselves to be taken.
