GLIL Infrastructure makes senior hires
7 June
GLIL Infrastructure has appointed Simon Merriweather as a senior adviser within its asset management team.
He joins from Partners Group in Switzerland where he served as global head of asset management and has also held non-executive director roles for various infrastructure investments across a range of sectors.
GLIL is a £3.6bn partnership of UK pension funds and pools – including Local Pensions Partnership Investments, Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund, West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF) and Nest, the government-established DC workplace pension provider.
In his new role, Merriweather will join GLIL’s Asset Management Group and will support the fund’s portfolio of 13 assets, including renewable energy and storage, water, transport, hospitals and schools.
The investment fund also confirmed the appointments of WYPF managing director Euan Miller to its executive committee and WYPF chief investment officer Leandros Kalisperas to its investment committee.
Head of asset management Colin Simpson said: “Our members and partners really value our commitment to active stewardship and governance of assets, and our approach to responsible investment practices. Simon’s expertise will help us develop the best approach possible for our portfolio, and ensure we continue to provide members with the long-term benefits of investing in infrastructure.”
By Martin Richmond
Vidett adds three to its team
6 June
Vidett has hired Caroline Eastwood, Karen Wells and Rich Ingham to its team.
Eastwood, who joins Vidett as client director, has previously worked in-house as a senior pensions manager at Nationwide Building Society and Skipton Building Society – supporting the outsourcing of administration, integrating ESG into an investment strategy and working in fiduciary investment management.
She has also worked at Mercer in its governance trustee services team and was the 2019 winner of the Pensions Manager of the Year at the Professional Pensions Women in Pensions Awards.
Wells joins as a trustee director and previously worked in-house as a pensions manager for BMW Pension Services, Directline, and Kellogg Brown & Root. Prior to that she worked at Willis Towers Watson and was also a principal at Mercer for 15 years.
Ingham joins Vidett as a senior trustee consultant, having joined from Mercer. Prior to that he was an administrator and consultant at JLT employee benefits, where he became the scheme actuary of its in-house pension scheme and assisted in the scheme merger.
By Jasmine Urquhart
AXA IM appoints global chief operating officer
6 June
AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has appointed Caroline Portel as global chief operating officer (COO), effective from 1 July.
She joins from AXA Global Re where she worked as chief financial officer (CFO) and has also served as CFO at Architas Global and AXA Global Life.
In her new role, Portel will serve on the company’s management board and will report to AXA IM executive chair Marco Morelli.
She will be based in Paris and will succeed Laurent Caillot in the role.
Morelli said: “I am delighted to welcome Caroline to the management board as global COO and I look forward to working with her in these key strategic areas. Caroline has over 20 years’ experience in finance and knows AXA very well, having held several roles in different entities. She will bring invaluable insights to her teams and the management board.
“I would also like to thank Laurent for his contribution to AXA IM over the past four years and notably for his leadership to transform our operating model to make AXA IM one of the most technologically driven asset managers. I sincerely wish him the best in his new professional adventures.”
By Martin Richmond
SEI appoints CEO of SEI Investments Europe
6 June
SEI has appointed Jim London as the chief executive (CEO) of SEI Investments Europe (SEIL) to succeed Brett Williams following his retirement.
London’s appointment will be effective from 30 June pending regulatory approval.
He currently serves as chief operating officer for SIEL and head of SEI’s UK private banking and wealth management business, a role he will maintain.
SEI chief executive Ryan Hicke commented: “From strategic growth and acquisitions to market and regulatory changes, Jim has played a critical leadership role in the successful implementation and ongoing engagement of clients in the UK. He continues to lead key initiatives to evolve our operating model, including the exploration and application of emerging technologies to drive efficiency and scale.
“The wealth management industry continues to undergo significant transformation, and the UK presents opportunities for SEI to capitalise on this trend. Our talented workforce and strength of our leadership drive our success, and Jim will continue to help position our company to seize these opportunities and drive future growth.”
Commenting on his appointment, London said: “Our industry position sets us apart in the competitive landscape, and we have a significant opportunity to accelerate SEI’s growth in the UK market. The future of wealth management is rooted in providing a personalised and connected experience, and our world-class technology and investment solutions connect investors to what matters most and power the future of wealth.”
By Jonathan Stapleton
Isio promotes duo to partner
6 June
Isio has promoted Laura Higgins and Emma Hudson to the role of partner.
Higgins joined KPMG in 2004 and currently serves as head of Isio’s Bristol office. She will also take a leading role in the company’s GMP equalisation team.
Hudson joined from Mercer in 2021 and currently leads Isio’s Midlands investment team and has experience working large defined benefit schemes.
The promotions of Higgins and Hudson follow the appointment of Emily McGuire as head of the firm’s investment advisory team and the completion of Isio’s acquisition of Deloitte UK’s pensions advisory business.
Chief executive Andrew Coles said: “Emma and Laura have both made a fantastic contribution to our development and the services that we offer. Both are fresh, ambitious thinkers who embody our challenger mindset, and I am thrilled to welcome them to the Partner group as we continue to extend our offering and win new clients.”
Higgins commented: “As we continue to grow we are creating exciting career opportunities for our talented team here in Bristol and I look forward to continuing this in my role as partner. I have spent the last couple of years focussing on GMP equalisation, this has been the most intellectually challenging and interesting part of my recent career, and I look forward to further advancing our solution and leading our national team.”
Hudson added: “I look forward to working with Emily and the wider Isio team to drive the continued high growth of our business. I will also continue to have a role in the training and development of our people; it is important to me that as we continue our rapid growth, we maintain our strong culture and develop our people.”
By Martin Richmond
Arc Pensions Law hires partner
5 June
Arc Pensions Law has hired Beth Brown as a partner.
Brown has 14 years’ experience advising trustees and employers on pension law and joins from DAC Beachcroft. She has also previously been seconded to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF).
She has advised trustees on employer insolvencies and transition to the PPF, sponsor refinancings and de-risking, including on a £1.6bn buy-in.
Arc Pensions Law said Brown’s appointment “demonstrates Arc Pensions Law’s position as a pioneer, driving pensions law into the future”.
“The firm’s long-standing motto, ‘For the Future’, encapsulates the proactive and visionary approach Arc Pensions Law takes towards the industry, and Beth’s joining is a tangible example of this motto in action.”
Brown added: “I am delighted to be joining Arc Pensions Law. The firm’s reputation in the pensions industry is unambiguously stellar, and I am excited about the opportunities at Arc.”
Managing partner Rosalind Connor said: “We are delighted to welcome Beth to the firm, in what is another step towards developing the next generation at Arc Pensions Law. Her top-flight experience across a broad range of pensions matters makes her an excellent addition to our team.”
By Jasmine Urquhart
Aviva Investors appoints head of institutional sales
5 June
Aviva Investors has appointed Monica Fan-Bradley as head of institutional sales within its global client solutions function.
Fan-Bradley has more than 25 years’ experience working in a variety of senior roles on the buy and sell side of the investment industry.
She joins Aviva from UBS Asset Management where she worked for almost seven years, most recently as managing director and head of global consultant relations.
Fan-Bradley was also previously a member of eVestment’s Asset Manager Board and the advisory council of The Diversity Project UK.
In her new role, reporting to global head of client solutions Louise Kay, she will have responsibility for expanding Aviva Investors’ sales activities with global institutional investors across its pensions, official institutions, liquidity and consultant teams, as well as strategic relationships across the UK, Europe, North America and Middle East.
Kay said: “As we continue to expand our distribution capabilities the leadership skills Monica brings to our business, along with her proven track record in raising client capital, will be critical in achieving the ambitious targets we are setting ourselves for driving growth and assets under management.
“The increased headcount of our global client solutions function reflects the level of demand we are seeing across all client channels for active, competitive products that can deliver the right investment outcomes and, where relevant, reflect wider corporate values. We believe Monica’s calibre and talent will be incredibly valuable and we welcome her warmly to Aviva Investors.”
By Jasmine Urquhart
