The latest senior moves in wealth and asset management in the UK and Europe.

AssetCo
AssetCo, the UK wealth and asset management firm which recently agreed to buy Saracen Fund Managers, has appointed Gary Collins as distribution head.

Collins was previously in the same role at Columbia Threadneedle Investments, running the Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Latin American distribution strategy and team. He joined Columbia Threadneedle in 2006 as head of UK retail/wholesale, having previously worked at Merrill Lynch Investment Management.

AssetCo is primarily involved in acquiring, managing and operating asset and wealth management activities and interests, together with other related services. The firm is chaired by high-profile industry figure Martin Gilbert. More than a week ago it agreed to buy Saracen Fund Managers for £2.75 million ($3.87 billion). The purchase agreement is an example of the kind of acquisition strategy that AssetCo has flagged as part of its business approach.

Finitive
Finitiv, a private credit marketplace, has appointed a former senior figure at groups such as Royal Bank of Scotland (now NatWest) and GE Capital to lead its European business plans. Andrew Holgate will be managing director and head of Europe, based in the UK.

Holgate will develop Finitive's relations with non-bank lenders seeking financing, such as specialist finance companies, online lenders, marketplace lenders and private credit funds. He has worked in traditional and alternative finance for more than 20 years. He founded Equitivo, a European fintech consultancy and advisory business.

The Finitive platform gives institutional investors access to private credit opportunities across multiple asset classes and structures. All regulated activities are conducted through North Capital Private Securities, a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.

IRSG Council
A UK-based body focused on promoting market-friendly regulations – an increasingly urgent need post-Brexit – has named a former senior European parliamentarian as its chair.

The International Regulatory Strategy Group has named Dr Kay Swinburne, vice chair of financial services for KPMG UK and former vice chair of the European Parliament’s Economics and Monetary Affairs Committee, to the post.

The role was previously held by former City minister Mark Hoban.

The IRSG focuses on promoting regulation that encourages open and competitive global markets. Recent priorities have included the UK’s regulatory framework post-Brexit, ESG and a green finance taxonomy, and priorities for the G7 held in the UK this year. The group is co-sponsored by TheCityUK and the City of London Corporation and comprises senior practitioners from across the financial and related professional services industry.