Brooks Macdonald
Caroline Connellan will be joining Brooks Macdonald as group chief executive in April 2017, subject to regulatory approvals. She has more than 20 years’ experience in financial services, most recently as head of UK Premier and Wealth at HSBC where she led the transformation of the UK Wealth business.
Chris Macdonald will remain with Brooks Macdonald in his current role of chief executive becoming deputy chairman with effect from April 2017. In his new role, Macdonald will also serve as an adviser to the firm to support the continued growth and development of the group.
It is the intention of the board that, subject to shareholder approval, Macdonald will take on the role of chairman in the future.
Principal Global Investors
Suresh Singh has been named Principal Global Investors’ head of funds distribution for Asia.
Based in Singapore, he will be responsible for introducing the capabilities of Principal’s investment boutiques, covering specialities in equities, fixed income, real estate, and alternatives, to key intermediaries, fund selectors, and investment platforms.
Singh, who joins from BlackRock, will report to the firm’s global head of Wealth Advisory Services, Nick Lyster and head of the southeast Asian region, Celestine Khoo.
Vanguard
Vanguard has promoted David Cermak to head of Asia and Charles Lin to lead the firm’s China business.
Cermak is currently head of Vanguard Japan. Based in Hong Kong, he will continue to oversee the Japanese business until a successor is named.
Lin, currently the head of Greater China, will become the head of China, and take on full responsibility for mainland China’s build out.
Furter, Shelly Painter, regional managing director for Vanguard Asia, will relocate to the US to lead the company’s enterprise risk management function.
Rowan Dartington
Rowan Dartington has recruited John Cowmeadow from Brewin Dolphin to become its new managing director for Rowan Dartington Signature, the business’ discretionary management arm for IFAs.
He replaces Guy Stepens who has moved to a broader technical investment role supporting the private client, intermediary and SJP partner business, along with developing and expanding Rowan Dartington International.
Standard Life Investments
Scott Conlon has been appointed to the newly created role of North American investment specialist for Standard Life Investments. Based in Boston, Conlon will report to Tom Coleman, head of US investment specialists, and support the growth of SLI’s global and regional equity strategies in the US and Canadian markets.
Conlon was previously vice president, portfolio strategist at State Street Global Advisors, where he focused on active equity, low volatility equity and smart beta equity strategies, covering US, global, and emerging market regions.
Legal & General
John Kingman will take up his appointment as group chairman of Legal & General with effect from 24 October 2016.
Rudy Markham, interim chairman, will remain on the board as non-executive director until the AGM in 2017.
DWF
Law firm DWF has made two hires for its national counter fraud team, tasked with tackling organised fraud and financial crime.
Jacky Cattini joins as head of financial risk from HSBC, where she was global fraud prevention manager. Prior to HSBCV, she was the associate director of Group Fraud Risk Management at Barclays and formerly was the head of analytics at the Insurance Fraud Bureau.
Linda Avan joins as an intelligence consultant from Liberty Insurance, where she worked as a specialist investigator. She brings with her 20 years’ experience working with insurers and specialises in identifying and gathering intelligence on complex, organised fraud rings, from initial detection to reporting for enforcement and providing evidence in court.
