US-listed Franklin Templeton Investments has bolstered its UK capabilities with the hire of Peter Jackson from Aegon Asset Management as part of wider expansion plans in the UK.

Part of the strategy is that Alex Brotherston will take on an expanded role as head of advisory sales and strategic partnerships. Reporting to Ian Wilkins, this role will see Brotherston spearhead Franklin Templeton’s growth in the UK advisory space via platforms, retail banks, life companies and IFAs. As part of the planned build-out of the advisory sales team, Brotherston has hired Jackson as business development manager to cover northern England and Scotland.

“Advisors will face both an interesting and challenging post-RDR landscape," Brotherston commented. "They need to be aware of what the UK can offer across a broad fund spectrum but also examine opportunities in offshore funds that are registered for sale in the UK.”  

In other developments at the firm, the company has added to its UK discretionary team with the hire of Kevin Lloyd as business development manager to cover key accounts in London. He joins from Henderson Global Investors.

The company also reports that Rensburg Fund Management will be renamed Franklin Templeton Fund Management in mid-October, and its fund range will adopt “Franklin” prefix.The rebranding follows Franklin Templeton Asset Management’s purchase of Rensburg in January this year, and is described as a key element of the acquisition.