London-based asset manager Threadneedle has appointed William Davies as head of global equities.

Davies first joined Threadneedle in 1994, and has headed the firm’s European equities team since 1999. In his new role, Davies will lead a team of 10, including fund manager Neil Robson, who joined in October.

“The increased internationalisation of companies in every region, combined with the potential for large, genuinely global organisations to provide a buffer against ongoing volatility is driving investor interest, as is the attractive yield that global equity income products can offer,” Leigh Harrison, head of equities, said in a statement.

Robson joined from Martin Currie Investment Management, where he was global portfolio manager. Prior to joining Martin Currie in 2010, he was head of global equities and then head of equities at Pioneer Asset Management, after joining in 2003.

In addition, Philip Dicken has been promoted to head of European equities; within this team, Dan Ison remains head of Pan-European and Paul Doyle will become head of Continental. Both will report to Dicken.

Jeremy Podger, the former head of global equities, has joined Fidelity Worldwide Investment as a senior portfolio manager in its global equity team, as reported by WealthBriefing elsewhere today.