(ShareCast News) - Katherine Garrett-Cox, who stepped down as chief executive of Alliance Trust in October, is cashing in some of her chips before Christmas.She sold 305,683 shares in the company through her spouse Jeremy, netting a total of £1.5m.That takes her total beneficial interest in the company to 1,333,147 shares, 0.2499% of the company.Garrett-Cox, who is still chief executive and a director of Alliance Trust's fund management arm, stepped down from her role as part of a broader board shakeup after a battle with shareholder activist fund Elliott Advisors.It came after the US hedge fund argued that Alliance Trust's performance has been poor and had campaigned for changes to the board.The parties reached a truce in April when the company agreed to appoint two of the three candidates Elliott had put forward for positions on the board.Top Director BuysAldermore Group (ALD) Director name: Mr Phillip MonksAmount purchased: 40,000 @ 217.00p Value: £86,800Westmount Energy Ltd. (WTE) Director name: Mr Thomas O'GormanAmount purchased: 2,000,000 @ 4.00p Value: £80,000Westmount Energy Ltd. (WTE) Director name: Mr Gerard WalshAmount purchased: 2,000,000 @ 4.00p Value: £80,000Pure Wafer (PUR) Director name: Mr Stephen BoydAmount purchased: 40,000 @ 188.00p Value: £75,200Mcbride (MCB) Director name: Mr Rik De Vos Amount purchased: 10,000 @ 149.25p Value: £14,925Atlas Mara Limited (DI) (ATMA) Director name: Mr Robert E. DiamondAmount purchased: 2,410 @ $5.30 Value: $12,773Aldermore Group (ALD) Director name: Mr Phillip MonksAmount purchased: 5,000 @ 217.00p Value: £10,850Atlas Mara Limited (DI) (ATMA) Director name: Mr John VitaloAmount purchased: 1,930 @ $5.30 Value: $10,229Top Director SellsAlliance Trust (ATST) Director name: Mr Katherine Garrett-CoxAmount sold: 305,683 @ 493.00p Value: £1,507,017Diploma (DPLM) Director name: Mr Bruce ThompsonAmount sold: 150,000 @ 740.50p Value: £1,110,750Diploma (DPLM) Director name: Mr Iain HendersonAmount sold: 25,299 @ 740.50p Value: £187,339Diploma (DPLM) Director name: Mr Nigel LingwoodAmount sold: 13,945 @ 740.50p Value: £103,263