Who’s Moving Where In Wealth Management? – Columbia Threadneedle Investments, Fidelity International, Others

The latest moves and appointments for wealth management roles in the UK, and other parts of Europe, the Middle East and select international locations.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Columbia
Threadneedle Investments, a global asset manager, has
appointed three new investment professionals to join its
London-based investment teams,

Ciara Fitzgerald has joined the firm as an investment grade
credit portfolio manager in the investment grade credit portfolio
management team, reporting to senior portfolio manager, Chris
Hult. Fitzgerald brings significant experience from roles at ANZ
and Deutsche Bank, where she worked across debt capital markets
and syndicate functions, providing origination coverage for
European institutions and executing syndicate transactions for
global borrowers. “Her deep expertise in credit markets and
syndication will be invaluable as we continue to enhance our
investment grade capabilities for our clients,” Hult said.

Natasha Ebtehadj, who has been appointed global equities
portfolio manager, has returned Columbia Threadneedle from
Artemis, where she served in the same role. Ebtehadj previously
spent 15 years at the Columbia Threadneedle, most recently in the
global equities team, and has also worked in multi-asset and
Asian equities. Neil Robson, head of global equities, EMEA
at Columbia Threadneedle Investments said. “Her deep knowledge of
our investment platform and her broad experience across both
equities and multi asset will be invaluable to the team and our
clients,” Neil Robson, head of global equities, EMEA at Columbia
Threadneedle Investments said.

Steve Nelson has joined the fixed income client portfolio
management (CPM) team in London. In particular, he will be
covering investment grade credit strategies. Nelson has 15 years’
experience from Janus Henderson, where he served in a variety of
CPM roles covering a wide range of fixed income products,
including multi-sector credit, asset-backed securities and
loans. “His breadth of experience across fixed income
markets and his strong client portfolio management background
make him an excellent addition and we are excited to begin
working with him,” Gary Smith, head of fixed income client
portfolio manager team in the EMEA fixed income, said.

Fidelity International

Fidelity
International, a global asset manager and retirement savings
business, has appointed Chris Robinson as investment director,
based in London.

Specifically covering the UK wholesale market, Robinson will work
across Fidelity’s multi asset range, including model portfolio
services (MPS), retail funds and customised solutions. He will be
collaborating with portfolio management and distribution teams,
engaging with clients to share insight on the team’s investment
views and capabilities.

Robinson has strong investment expertise and credentials, as well
as an understanding of the UK IFA landscape. With over a decade
of experience, most recently at Premier Miton Investors and
Tatton Investment Management, he has gained extensive knowledge
of the UK advisor market, including the regulatory, technology
and business challenges facing advisors and their clients.

“Chris’s knowledge of the UK IFA market, extensive experience
across multi asset strategies and MPS, and strong client focus
make him a valuable addition to the team,” Dennis Pellerito, head
of wholesale, Fidelity International, said. “The advised market
in the UK, spanning MPS, multi asset and custom solutions,
remains a key priority for Fidelity. Alongside Graham Folley,
head of and intermediary solutions sales, and the multi asset
investment team, Chris will play a pivotal role in ensuring we
provide the right solutions for advisors and their end clients.”

Charles Russell Speechlys

International law firm Charles
Russell Speechlys has appointed Justine Howard (pictured) as
general counsel (GC). She has joined from Pinsent Masons where
she was the deputy GC and money laundering reporting officer.

With more than two decades of experience in senior legal roles,
Howard has a “deep understanding” of law firm strategy and
operations, aligning governance and compliance frameworks with
strategic business goals to deliver the desired outcomes for long
term, sustainable growth, the firm said in a statement. Alongside
this, she has a particular interest in AI ethics and governance,
and the role these play in enabling organisations to innovate
responsibly.

Howard will be responsible for the firm’s growth, governance,
regulatory compliance, and risk management. She will be work
closely with the senior leadership team and partners across the
firm to align legal and business objectives to support safe and
sustainable growth.

Outside of her daily work, Howard has a keen interest in
responsible business initiatives, women in leadership and
workplace wellbeing.

“Justine brings with her a combination of commercial awareness,
regulatory expertise and people focused leadership,” Lesley
O’Leary, chief operating officer, said. “We are a rapidly growing
and increasingly complex business, and Justine’s track record of
building frameworks to mitigate risk, and ensure compliance,
whilst simultaneously driving growth will be instrumental in
helping us tackle emerging regulatory and risk challenges in the
months and years to come as we strengthen our international
reach.”