The Dundee, Scotland-headquartered investment and financial services company has made two additions to its board.

London-listed Alliance Trust has appointed former Ignis chief Chris Samuel as non-executive director.

Samuel was chief executive of Ignis Asset Management from 2009 until its takeover last year by Standard Life Investments. Before Ignis, he served as chief operating officer at Gartmore and Hill Samuel.

The company has also appointed Karl Sternberg as non-executive director. Sternberg was founding partner of Oxford Investment Partners where he worked from 2006 to 2013 and prior to this, held several roles at Deutsche Asset Management, including global head of equities and chief investment officer for Europe and Asia Pacific.

The appointments come as current directors, John Hylands, who joined the board seven years ago, and Alastair Kerr, the company's senior independent director, who joined three years ago, will be stepping down from their positions in May 2016. Sternberg will replace Kerr as senior independent director. 

“I am delighted that Chris and Karl are joining the Board as they both bring extensive knowledge of the industry from their careers in the investment and asset management sector,” said the company's chair, Karin Forseke.

“I would like to thank both Alastair and John for their substantial contributions to the development of Alliance Trust over a period during which we have delivered strong and consistent returns for our shareholders while also continuing to develop our investment and savings business.”

After Samuel and Sternberg take on their new roles in May, the five of Alliance Trust's nine serving board directors will have been appointed since 2014.