Protean Investments, a newly-established investment firm based in the UK, has hired Bob Champney to bolster the firm’s investment solutions capabilities, with particular focus on macroeconomic dynamic index funds.

Champney was latterly managing director and head of product development at Merrill Lynch. He has also been head of exotic derivative trading at Toronto Dominion, as well as serving as special advisor to the UK Treasury Select Committee during its investigation of the split capital investment trust industry.

Protean Investments was set up around six months ago and Champney joins as the firm’s fourth partner.

The firm’s managing director, Clive Moore, is also a director at IDaD (Investment Design & Distribution), which he founded in 2002.