Schroders
The firm has selected Philip Chandler, head of UK multi-asset, as CIO of Schroder Investment Solutions.
Chandler will maintain his role as head of UK multi-asset in addition to his new position. He joined Schroders in 2003, and the multi-asset team in 2009.
Schroder Investment Solutions (SIS) was established in 2021 as a range of actively-managed model portfolios and multi-asset strategies. Chandler has been a co-manger of the global multi-asset portfolio range in SIS since it began.
Close Brothers Group
CEO Adrian Sainsbury has stepped down from his position following a period of medical leave, in order to focus on his health.
According to a London Stock Exchange announcement published 7 January 2025 Sainsbury officially left the business yesterday. The company said he is “recuperating well” and is “expected to make a full recovery”.
Mike Morgan, group finance director at Close Brothers Group, has been appointed group CEO in Sainsbury’s place on a permanent basis, subject to regulatory approval.
The CISI
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) has appointed Steven McBurnie as the new chair of its Paraplanner Interest Group (PPIG).
He takes over from Dan Atkinson who steps down after five years in the role.
McBurnie is a certified financial planner, a CISI Chartered Fellow (Financial Planning) and a CISI Chartered Wealth Manager.
McBurnie works with Glasgow-based Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie and has been on the CISI PPIG committee for five years.
Brooks Macdonald
The wealth manager has bolstered its distribution team with two senior hires from Rathbones.
James Goward has joined the wealth manager as head of sales enablement after 12 years at Rathbones, where he was head of distribution operations.
Meanwhile, Rathbones head of regional sales Ben Johnson has also joined Brooks Macdonald as head of business development directors.
Aviva Investors
The firm has appointed Fidelity’s Gita Bal as head of fixed income research, a newly created role for the firm.
Bal joins Aviva after over 13 years with Fidelity, where she became global head of research for fixed income. Previously, she spent a year at CreditSights and almost four years at PIMCO.
In her new position, Bal will report to global head of fixed income Fraser Lundie, who joined the team earlier in 2024.
Hurst Point Group
Hawksmoor parent company Hurst Point Group has selected Michael Bishop to take over as managing director of its investment management division as Sarah Soar leaves the business after five years leading Hawksmoor.
Soar oversaw the sale of Hawksmoor to Hurst Point Group as well as its integration with Wellian and acquisition of Gore Browne Investment Management, the other main branch of Hurst Point’s investment management division.
AXA IM
The firm has appointed James Dowey and Matthew Ward to its thematic equities team.
Dowey joins having most recently been co-head of the global innovation team and co-manager of the global technology, global innovation and global dividend funds at Liontrust Asset Management.
Meanwhile, Ward has left Barings to take up the role as portfolio manager. He was head of global technology equities and co-head of global and international equities at the firm and managed and managed the Barings Global Technology fund.
Findlay Park
The company has selected Rose Vangerven as the next CEO beginning in April, as current CEO Simon Pryke becomes executive chair of the company.
Vangerven has been with Findlay Park since 2019 as the responsible investment lead and became a partner in 2021.
Before Findlay Park, she spent time at BlackRock, Sciteb and Columbia Threadneedle. In 2022, she became deputy chair of the Independent Investment Management Initiative, and continues in that role.
Rathbones AM
The firm has announced new hires to its distribution team.
Kim Nelson has joined from Schroders as a business development director to lead asset management distribution in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
At Schroders, she was head of the client group for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Her previous experience also includes five years at Tilney, where she was a business development manager.
