Octopus Investments
The investment arm of Octopus Group has appointed Benjamin Davis as chief executive to lead its retail and institutional fund management business.
Davis is a 12-year veteran within the Octopus Group and current chief executive of Octopus Real Estate.
He will succeed Ruth Handcock, who has been chief executive of Octopus Investments for four years, will be remaining within the wider Octopus Group, leading its drive to help more people get access to help with their money.
She will support Davis through a transition period in an advisory capacity and remain on the Octopus Investments board.
Handcock will continue to act as chair for Octopus MoneyCoach, Seccl, and Guardian Angel.
Progeny
The financial planning group has appointed Heather Ross to the newly created role of head of academy.
She was most recently learning and development director at Balmoral Asset Management – which was acquired by Progeny in July 2022 – where she was also responsible for its graduate academy.
Sigma Private Office
The Dubai wealth firm has hired Chris Cocker as chief investment officer.
He was previously investment adviser and executive director at UBS and Barclays Private Bank.
Waverton Investment Management
The discretionary investment manager has appointed Sarah Keltie as business development director to lead the growth plans for its private client channel.
Keltie joins from Close Brothers Asset Management, where she was responsible for the firm’s strategy attracting clients within the professional services sectors, including lawyers, accountants, trust companies and investment consultants.
Nuveen
The asset manager has promoted Romina Smith to head of continental Europe within the global client group.
Christoffer Hedberg, who is responsible for northern Europe, and Sergio Trezzi, who leads southern Europe, will report to Smith going forward.
Smith will continue to be based in Frankfurt and will still report to Simon England-Brammer, head of Emea and Apac global client group at Nuveen.
Artemis
The fund manager has appointed Alex Stanic to the newly created position of head of global equities.
This is following the decision by global equity fund manager Simon Edelsten to retire from the firm.
Edelsten who manages the Mid Wynd International Investment Trust and the open-ended Artemis Global Select Fund, will leave the fund boutique and retire as an Artemis partner at the end of 2023.
To ensure a smooth handover, Edelsten will continue managing the funds alongside Stanic, who joins from JP Morgan Asset Management’s international equity group on 1 March.
Stanic spent seven years at JP Morgan, where he led on the global equity funds in the Global Specialist team, including the Global Unconstrained Equity Fund.
Also, Alex Illingworth – who co-manages the Mid Wynd and Artemis Global Select vehicles with Edelsten – will leave Artemis at the end of this month.
The firm expects to announce shortly the appointment of two other new members of the global equity team. They will report to Stanic and work across the two portfolios and other global equity mandates alongside analysts Bobby Powar and May Laghzaoui.
Alex Picot Trust
Chelsea Ford has been named as a trust manager at the company.
She joins from VG, where she gained private client experience involving UK real estate and family office structures for an international client base.
Kingsley Napley
The law firm has named Waqar Shah as a partner of its tax disputes and investigations service offering.
Waqar joins from Mishcon de Reya, where he became a partner in 2021.
Oakbridge Wealth
The Jersey investment manager has named Charlotte Larbalestier as compliance officer.
She joins Oakbridge with over 10 years’ experience having previously held compliance and client data analysis roles with Canaccord.
Altum Group
Baroness Helena Morrissey has been appointed chair of the fund and family office services provider.
Formerly chief executive of Newton Investment Management, Morrissey currently sits as chair of Diversity Project, AJ Bell, and Fidelis Insurance having previously served as chair of the Investment Association (IA).
During her career, she has gained a reputation as a champion of diversity having founded the 30% Club in 2010, a campaign aiming to increase the representation of women on boards. Since launch, representation on FTSE 350 boards has increased to almost 40% from 10%.
Morrissey entered the House of Lords in 2020 after being appointed a Dame in 2017 for her contribution to improving diversity in the financial services industry.
