Abrdn Adviser
Abrdn Adviser has appointed Verona Kenny to the newly created role of chief distribution officer, reporting to CEO Noel Butwell.
She will join in Q4 having most recently worked as managing director, intermediary, at 7IM.
The appointment is another step in the strengthening of the leadership team, following the recent creation of the chief technology officer role. The firm added that the hire is a signal of its ambition to capitalise on the opportunities being created by ongoing change in the industry.
St James’s Place
The wealth manager has hired Andy Ford as its new head of responsible investment, joining after six years at Aviva Investors where he was head of ESG investment directors.
Ford brings 20 years of experience to the role, including time spent at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, JP Morgan Cazenove, and Standard Life Investments in addition to his time with Aviva.
Before Ford’s appointment, Sam Turner led the responsible investment team for four years. He will remain at St James’s Place in a “broader role in the investment product team”, but continue to oversee implementation of SDR rules and sustainable product strategy, as well as policy engagement with the industry.
Titan Wealth
The firm has appointed Ian Wood, former CIO of Titan Private Wealth, as group CIO for the company.
Wood has spent over 17 years with Titan Private Wealth, previously Cardale Asset Management until it was acquired by Titan Wealth in 2022. In his new position, Wood will be responsible for investment decisions at Titan Investment Solutions as well as the private wealth branch.
John Leiper, who became CIO of Titan Asset Management in 2020, will be leaving the company after over seven years. He began at Titan Wealth as a senior portfolio manager in 2017, before becoming head of portfolio management and eventually CIO.
Aviva Investors
Global equity fund managers Richard Saldanha, Andrea Carzana, Francois de Bruin and Matt Kirby are set to leave Aviva Investors.
Saldanha runs the firm’s £581m Global Equity Income and Social Transition Global Equity funds alongside Kirby, while he also manages the £516m Global Equity Endurance strategy alongside De Bruin. Carzana, is co-portfolio manager of the £722m Climate Transition Global Equity strategy.
Aviva said it remains committed to its equity franchise, and has initiated a process to replace the fund managers. Meanwhile, the firm said it has put in place an interim management plan to minimise disruption for clients.
