The latest moves and appointments in wealth management in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East and other select locations.

BRI Wealth Management
BRI Wealth Management plc, an independently-owned wealth management company, has appointed Laura Ripley as a chartered financial planner.

Ripley will be joining the wealth management team headed by Andy Gillett, head of Wealth Management Advice. Her remit is to build and guide clients through their bespoke financial strategies, and help them to meet their short- and long-term financial goals. Ripley, who has worked in the sector for 15 years, has acquired extensive experience in advising clients on how to protect and improve their financial wellbeing as well as navigating the complexities of pensions, investments, tax and lifetime financial planning, the firm said in a statement.

She began her career at financial planning firm Michael Ambrose Group as a SIPP administrator before advancing to more senior roles at the firm as a paraplanner and financial advisor. In 2020, she joined Leicestershire-based chartered and accredited financial planning firm, Handford Aitkenhead & Walker Ltd, as as a chartered financial planner and was appointed operations director two years later.

Ripley, who is an accredited retirement planning specialist, holds the CFA IMC qualification alongside being a chartered fellow of the Personal Finance Society, the most prestigious level of achievement in the financial planning profession.

“We are delighted to welcome Laura to the firm. She brings a strong balance of both technical and soft skills which perfectly fit within the culture of the firm. Her understanding and appreciation for the entire financial advice process, her diligence and commitment to providing her clients with the best possible solutions make her a great addition to BRI Wealth Management,” Gillett said.

BRI provides expert advice on a range of areas including investment management, financial planning, ISAs, pensions, inheritance tax planning and tax-relieved investments. Typically, the firm serves private clients, charities, trusts, intermediaries and corporations.

Newton Investment Management
Newton Investment Management, part of BNY Mellon Investment Management, has strengthened its multi-asset investment team with the appointment of London-based Paul Brain as deputy chief investment officer.

His current role at Newton as head of fixed income will be assumed by Ella Hoxha, who is joining from Pictet Asset Management in July, the firm said in a statement. Brain will retain his current portfolio management responsibilities through a transition period, after which Hoxha take over.

In the newly-created role, Brain will focus on developing Newton’s multi-asset capabilities, drawing on his near 40 years of investment experience, and 20 years leading Newton’s fixed income team.

Reporting to Mitesh Sheth, multi-asset CIO at Newton, Brain will contribute to macro investment idea generation across the franchise, working on the expansion of Newton’s research themes, and on product innovation, to ensure that clients have access to solutions fit for the changing economic environment, the firm continued.

“Alongside Mitesh, Paul will help to challenge investment conventions and evolve our proposition such that Newton’s products remain at the forefront of the market,” Euan Munro, CEO at Newton, said. 

Hoxha will be responsible for the continuing development of Newton’s fixed income product offering, working with the existing team. She brings over two decades of fixed income expertise, having most recently been the senior portfolio manager at Pictet, where she focused on global fixed income strategies. She also led the development and launch of Pictet’s Global Climate Government Bond Fund, playing a role in the company’s ESG efforts in the fixed income space. Prior to Pictet, she held senior portfolio management positions at Wellington Management and Invesco, the firm added.