Axa Investment Management
Axa IM announced that Jamie Forbes-Wilson, Matthew Huddart, and William Howard will become co-managers alongside Jim Stride within the Axa distribution range. As co-manager across the five open-ended funds, Stride will oversee the entire distribution fund range.
Forbes-Wilson will join Stride on the Axa distribution fund and the Axa lifetime distribution fund; while Huddart, who has worked in the distribution team for 16 years, will become co-manager on the Axa defensive distribution fund and the Axa ethical distribution fund.
Howard will become co-manager of the Axa global distribution fund.
Legg Mason
Legg Mason has appointed Rick Andrews as head of international marketing. He will report directly to Matthew Schiffman, global head of marketing. Andrews will be based in Legg Mason’s London office effective from 22 February 2016.
Andrews will be responsible for developing and implementing Legg Mason’s marketing strategy across Europe, Asia, Australia, and South America.
He joins the firm with significant global marketing and management experience gained from positions at Credit Suisse Asset Management as global head of marketing; BlackRock where he was head of iShares marketing in Europe and later regional chief marketing officer; Cofunds; and Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
Deutsche Bank
Jamal Al Kishi has been appointed chief executive of Deutsche Bank Middle East and Africa, with immediate effect. He replaces Ashok Aram who is relocating to Frankfurt as chief executive for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (excluding Germany and the UK).
Subject to regulatory approval, Al Kishi will remain chief executive of Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia. He will also chair the Middle East and Africa (MEA) executive committee.
Deutsche Bank also announced the appointment of Salah Jaidah as chairman Middle East and North Africa, to spearhead the bank’s comprehensive efforts with its core clients. Jaidah will continue as general manager, Deutsche Bank AG Doha (QFC) Branch and as chief country officer Qatar; and will also continue as a member of the MEA executive committee.
Cyrus Investment Management
Specialist engineering turnaround EIS investment adviser, CIM, has appointed the Right Honourable the Lord Peter Hain, formerly secretary of state for Wales, and General Sir Peter Wall, former chief of the general staff, to the company’s advisory board.
Hain served in the UK Government for 12 years, seven of these in the Cabinet. He negotiated the 2007 settlement to end the conflict in Northern Ireland and was a foreign minister with successive responsibilities for Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Wall joined the Royal Engineers from Sandhurst in 1974. In 2010, he was appointed as chief of the general staff, the professional head of the British Army, after a year as commander-in-chief land forces.
Northstar Financial Services
Bermuda-based Northstar has expanded its sales support team with the addition of Armando Perez and Ana Aroche, in the roles of regional director and regional associate, respectively. Both join Northstart from Midwood Financial Services.
Juan Andres Delgado is a further addition, who has joined the firm as regional director. Delgado was previously international sales desk manager at Sun Life International, where he gained broad experience serving the international financial adviser community.
ClearBridge Investments
Ryan Virag has been named client portfolio manager of ClearBridge, tasked with building the company’s footprint in Europe.
Based in London, Virag will serve as a local investment management resource for clients. Additionally, he will work to broaden the awareness of ClearBridge and its investment capabilities among investors, investment consultants and financial advisors.
Knighthead Annuity & Life Assurance Company
Cayman Islands-based Knighthead Annuity has appointed John Harrell as executive vice president, head of sales and new business. He joins Knighthead Annuity from Russell Investments, where he was Director of Business Solutions for Bank Channel sales.
Working with other members of Knighthead Annuity’s existing executive team, Harrell will be responsible for the development and execution of the company’s fixed annuity sales and distribution strategies.
Alderbrooke
Executive search and cultural diagnostics consultancy, Alderbrooke, continued its expansion in the financial services sector with its appointment of Omar Al-Bakri as director of wholesale financial services.
Prior to joining Alderbrooke, Al-Bakri initiated the development of a successful corporate and transaction banking practice for Leathwaite, where his focus was on leadership positions. He started his career in banking with roles at Barclays, BNP Paribas, and as a relationship manager at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
