Guardian Wealth Management
The wealth firm has hired Nigel Gregory as group director, according to its Linkedin profile.
His arrival comes nearly three months after the departure of co-chief executives David Howell and John Hasberry, along with managing director Gavin Pluck; following Guardian’s acquisition by a private equity vehicle.
It also marks a swift departure by Gregory from his previous role at Cyprus-headquartered Woodbrook Group, where he was named chief operating officer in August 2019.
At GWM, Gregory’s focus will be on a number of key operational and strategic projects.
During his 25 years in the banking and financial planning sector, Gregory has held numerous senior roles including head of wealth and distribution at Dubai financial advice firm Acuma (now Devere Acuma).
Franklin Templeton
The global investment giant has named Jed Plafker as executive vice president of global alliances and new business strategies.
In this newly created position, Plafker will be responsible for the expansion of the company’s digital wealth management and distribution-related financial technology.
He will also oversee the company’s ongoing strategic investments and acquisitions in the area of digital wealth, as well as work on the pending deal with Legg Mason.
Plafker has overseen Franklin Templeton’s global distribution efforts, including retail and institutional sales, and product strategy, since 2017.
Prior to that, he was responsible for international distribution for the firm beginning in 2006.
James Hay
The retirement wealth planning platform has appointed Alex Kovach as chief commercial officer.
Kovach joins from Interactive Investor, where he led the commercial function for the past five years.
He will lead the sales and business development, proposition and marketing functions at James Hay.
Jupiter
The asset management firm has replaced several Merian fund managers with its own following its acquisition of the business.
Approximately 40 investment professionals, including 23 fund managers, will join Jupiter from Merian.
Jupiter managers Harry Richards and Adam Darling will take on the Merian Corporate Bond fund, currently managed by Lloyd Harris and Simon Prior, and financials specialist Luca Evangelisti will manage the Merian Financial Contingent Capital fund, also currently managed by Harris along with Rob James.
Jupiter manager Alejandro Arevalo will take over the Merian Emerging Market Debt fund, currently managed by Delphine Arrighi.
Patty Cao will join this team from Merian as an assistant fund manager “providing continuity for clients”.
Mark Heslop, who only joined Jupiter in October 2019, will take on the Merian Europe (ex-UK) Smaller Companies fund, currently run by Ian Ormiston.
River & Mercantile
Merian’s UK distribution boss Simon Smith has left the business ahead of its acquisition by Jupiter and landed at River & Mercantile.
Smith joins River & Mercantile in July as managing director, head of UK wholesale distribution.
He replaces Mark Thomas who left the fund group for Jupiter in December to become its head of UK sales.
Smith has been head of UK distribution at Merian for over a decade, joining the firm in November 2011 when it was still Old Mutual Global Investors.
Tiedemann Constantia
The independent wealth management firm has created its advisory board with the appointments of Carolina Müller-Möhl, Robert Hormats, Dr Christian Camenzind and Dr Michael O’Sullivan.
Müller-Möhl has managed and presided over the Müller-Möhl Group, a single-family Office that actively manages the family’s investments, since 2000.
Hormats spent 25 years as vice chairman of Goldman Sachs.
Camenzind has over twenty-five years’ experience in private banking and asset management including c-suite roles at Sal Oppenheim Jr & Cie (Switzerland) and Deutsche Bank Singapore.
O’Sullivan has twenty years’ experience in global financial markets, most recently as chief investment officer of the international wealth management division of Credit Suisse.
Mark Davies & Associates
The private client advisory firm has hired Roger Holman as tax partner.
He joins from law firm DWF, where he was director.
Prior to DWF, Holman was private wealth director at law firm Breacher.
Charles Stanley
The UK wealth manager has bolstered its investment management team in Leeds with the hiring of Martin Tyson.
He joins as investment director from Brewin Dolphin, where he was a divisional director.
The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)
The professional body has named Eugene Kiernan as president of the CISI National Advisory Council for Ireland.
He takes over from Frank O’Riordon, who has held the position for the last four years.
Kiernan joined the global financial services professional body in 1998 becoming a fellow in 2005.
He has over 35 years’ experience in the Asset management and Funds industry, with roles at Irish Life Investment Managers, AIB investment Managers and Appian Asset Management.
