SEI, the US financial services and technology firm, has appointed Jason Collins as head of UK and European equities.

In his new London-based role, Mr Collins will lead the UK and European Equity team, with responsibility for research, portfolio construction and manager selection of all SEI’s UK and European manager-of-managers funds. He will report to Kevin Barr, head of SEI’s Investment Management unit, and will also assume management responsibilities within the London office.

Mr Collins was most recently a co-founder of Maia Capital, the London-based multi-manager investment boutique. At the firm he was jointly responsible for all aspects of portfolio management including manager research, fund selection, asset allocation and portfolio construction.

Before founding Maia, Mr Collins was a portfolio manager at Fidelity International, having previously spent nine years at Skandia, latterly as head of investment research.

“Jason’s extensive experience of the UK and European markets and, in particular, his depth of knowledge of manager selection and portfolio construction will prove invaluable in this new position. The UK investment management team plays an integral role in SEI’s Fiduciary Management and Wealth Management businesses in Europe and we believe that this senior hire will help to contribute to SEI’s continued growth in the region,” said Mr Barr.