Arjent, the London-based boutique wealth manager, has tempted Luke Pearce out of retirement to head up a new office in Bristol as it moves to expand in the southwest region, Citywire reports.

Pearce has been retired for several years, having previously worked for Gerrard Investment Management, the publication said. Also appointed were former Rowan Dartington employees Sam Williams and Adam Sketchley, who joined as an investment executive and fund manager respectively.

Additionally, James Hutson, the recently appointed chief investment officer who was latterly CIO and joint managing partner of Rowan Dartington, will be spending some of his time in the Bristol office to help get the new office off the ground, according to the report.

David Couch, the former chief executive of Rowan Dartington and who now heads up Arjent, has said that his firm is looking to launch several offices across the southwest in the next two years – an area increasingly on wealth managers’ radar as an important regional hub of wealth.

Arjent had not responded to enquiries from WealthBriefing on the matter at the time of publication.

Originally specializing in US equities, Arjent was launched in 2000 and has subsequently expanded into alternative investments and private placements. It also has an office in Newbury, Berkshire.