Close Brothers Asset Management
The firm has completed a further hire from Investec Wealth and Investment with the appointment of Francesca Bartholdi as an investment manager.
She joins after spending nine years at Investec W&I, and will be based in the firm’s Mayfair office.
Bartholdi is also a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.
Bartholdi’s appointment is the latest in a series of CBAM hires from Investec W&I, after Annabel Barrow was announced as senior investment manager in January.
Brown Advisory
Andy Nickson has left Fidelity International to join Brown Advisory as UK intermediary sales director.
Nickson, who had previously spent nine years as sales associate director at Fidelity, will work with Brown Advisory’s investment and business development teams, as well as support the firm’s growth of its $23bn international business.
He will be based in Brown Advisory’s London office. Prior to his time at Fidelity, Nickson held sales roles at Argonaut and Neptune.
Charlie van Straubenzee, partner and head of European institutional and intermediary sales, said: “With over 14 years’ experience in sales and a deep understanding of our key UK and international markets, Andy will be an invaluable addition as we continue to strengthen our position and expand into new markets.
Fidelius
Chief executive of the advice firm Jim Grant is stepping down following a stake sale to Soderberg & Partners. After 12 years in the role he is handing over his day-to-day responsibilities to chief operating officer Ian Fowler. Grant will become executive chairman.
Meanwhile, chairman Mike Bennett and non-executive director Graham Miller are stepping down from the Fidelius board.
Grant said: “I am delighted that the FCA has now approved our application and, with Sӧderberg’s support and expertise, we can now put in place the exciting plans we have devised to deliver our next stage of growth.”
Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management
The firm has appointed Alex Barry as head of distribution, UK and Ireland. Barry joined the firm in March 2024.
His previous role was head of UK wholesale at Franklin Templeton, having joined in 2020 when it acquired his previous employer Legg Mason.
Prior to joining Legg Mason he spent 19 years at JPMorgan Asset Management where he was a managing director and held a number of senior positions in both London and New York. Barry began his career in the industry at Fidelity International and holds a Batchelor of Social Sciences Degree from the University of Birmingham.
