The latest moves, appointments and personnel changes among wealth management and related organisations in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa and select international locations.

Saltus
Saltus, a UK-based wealth manager, has appointed Andy Cawker as chairman of its asset management division to support the firm’s strategic growth.

Cawker will work closely with Saltus chairman, Bronek Masojada, managing partner, Jon Macintosh, and the wider board and management team across the business.

With more than 30 years of experience managing portfolios, cross-asset investment leadership and overseeing complex product groups, Cawker brings experience to Saltus Asset Management and Saltus Partners LLP. In his previous role as head of equities at Insight Investment, he launched and managed innovative investment strategies which “delivered impactful client results,” the firm said in a statement.

Cawker has led high performing teams and fostered their long-term success throughout his career; in addition to his recent role at Insight Investment, he has held senior positions at firms including Invesco and Prudential. His financial expertise, strategic insight and commitment to governance make him an ideal fit to chair Saltus Asset Management, the firm added, where he will focus on enhancing governance, overseeing growth initiatives and ensuring that the firm "continues to deliver exceptional client outcomes."

“Andy’s appointment as chairman of Saltus Asset Management and Saltus Partners represents an exciting new chapter for our firm and comes at a critical time for the business” Macintosh said. “Andy’s deep expertise in investment management, combined with his passion for mentoring and developing high performing teams, aligns perfectly with our values.”

Saltus Asset Management manages assets not just of Saltus clients but also assets for third-party wealth management and financial planning firms, including Saltus partners on the Saltus Partnership Programme.

Canaccord Wealth
Canaccord Wealth has welcomed Amy Richards, a figure who has worked at firms such as Marsh McLennan and Oliver Wyman, as a non-executive director.

Richards will help provide strategic oversight and guidance to Canaccord’s international leadership based in Guernsey, the Isle of Man and Jersey. She brings more than 20 years’ experience in financial and professional services working in New York, Toronto, London, Europe, and Asia. 

KBI Global Investors
KBI Global Investors (KBIGI), a specialist asset management boutique, has appointed Craig Bonthron as senior portfolio manager – Natural Resources Equity Strategies. Bonthron (pictured) will report to Colm O’Connor, head of portfolio management – Natural Resources Equity Strategies, and will work across the broader natural resources suite.

He is returning to the Dublin-based manager after 14 years. Bonthron was a portfolio manager on the firm’s pioneering Water Strategy from 2008 to 2010 and worked across the Alternative Energy (today ‘Energy Transition’), Climate Change, and Agribusiness strategies during that period.

Bonthron, who has managed positive impact funds most of his career, brings more than two decades of investment management experience as a global equity investor to his new role. Most recently, he was with Artemis Investment Management as part of the Impact Equities team, and for the previous six years an investment manager with Kames Capital, managing global equity and sustainability strategies. In the three years prior, Bonthron held investment manager and investment director positions with Scottish Widows Investment Partnership.

Bonthron is the fourth appointment to KBIGI’s Natural Resources Equity Strategies team, which comprises eight portfolio managers and three analysts. The team has been strengthened considerably in 2024: Ben Cooke was appointed as a portfolio manager; Jeanne Chow Collins as an ESG and engagement analyst; and Robert Fullam as an equity analyst.

KBIGI has a global client base and today holds mandates in the UK, Europe, North America, Asia, and Australasia, as well as for some of Ireland’s largest and best-known corporations. Part of Amundi, the firm is headquartered in Dublin, with a representative sales office in Boston, Massachusetts.

Unicorn Asset Management
Unicorn Asset Management, an independent UK equity specialist focusing on small and mid-sized companies, has made two appointments. Mark Westcott is joining as director of strategy and business development, and Cleo Papathanasopoulou as an investment associate.

Westcott will be responsible for strengthening existing relationships with institutional investors and broadening the firm’s client engagement both in the UK and internationally. Previously, he was with Singer Capital Markets bringing extensive expertise in the UK equity market, with a specific emphasis on institutional clients. With over 15 years’ experience, his deep understanding of client needs and market dynamics will play a key role in enhancing Unicorn’s service offering and expanding its reach into new markets.

Papathanasopoulou will collaborate closely with Unicorn’s investment team while elevating the client experience in her role as a product specialist. She brings significant expertise in both public and private markets, gained over seven years at Maven Capital Partners, where she contributed to the success of its range of VCTs.

“We warmly welcome Mark and Cleo to the Unicorn team. Their combined expertise will be pivotal as we enhance our client offering and expand our reach into new markets,” Alisdair Hinton, director of operations, Unicorn Asset Management, said. “These appointments reflect our ongoing commitment to deliver exceptional client service, while positioning Unicorn for continued growth as a leading independent UK equity specialist.”