The latest moves and appointments for wealth management roles in the UK, other parts of Europe, the Middle east and select international locations.

Quilter
Wealth manager Quilter has appointed Jenny Davidson as head of strategic propositions, responsible for defining the over-arching proposition for Quilter’s platform and investment solutions.

Davidson, who joined the business in June, reports to David Tiller, commercial and propositions director, the firm said. She previously spent more than a decade at abrdn/Standard Life, most recently as global head of wealth tech solutions and prior to that as head of platform investment solutions, it added.

With more than 25 years’ of experience across a variety of roles, including at Tesco Bank and Barclays, Davidson is well-placed to develop and execute the strategy to enhance Quilter’s platform and multi-asset solutions for advisors and their clients, the firm stressed.

Welcoming her to the firm, David Tiller, commercial and propositions director at Quilter, said: “Being able to add market-leading talent to an already strong Quilter team puts us in a great position to deliver new innovations and customer propositions that respond to and anticipate needs of advisors and their clients.”

“She has exceptional knowledge of the advice profession and the ever-changing regulatory environment, with a track record of collaborating with advisors to develop propositions to meet real client needs,” he added.   

Vermeer Partners 
Vermeer Partners, a London-based investment management partnership, has announced that Michael Kerr-Dineen is retiring as chairman of the firm.

As co-founder of Vermeer Partners, Kerr-Dineen joined the firm as chairman in 2018, alongside Simon Melling CEO.

Melling, who said that he had been with the firm from its very first days, through the challenges of the pandemic, leaves a thriving business with £1.8 billion ($2.2 billion) AUM. “We are delighted, however, that he will remain a partner of the firm, committed as he is to our continued success,” he added.

“The time is right for me to retire after 45 years in the City and I leave the vibrant and profitable firm in the capable hands of my successor, James Edgedale, together with my friend and colleague Simon Melling,” Kerr-Dineen said.

The firm had already announced last August that Edgedale, former chairman of JM Finn, would be appointed joint chairman of Vermeer Partners, alongside Kerr-Dineen.  

Evelyn Partners
Evelyn Partners, a wealth management and professional services group created from the merger of Tilney and Smith & Williamson, has appointed Nick Reeves as a partner in its London financial planning team.

In his new role, Reeves will support the firm’s drive to provide financial planning advice to clients with an international element to their financial affairs, the firm said. He is re-joiing the business from Deutsche Bank, where he spent four years as head of UK Wealth Planning & Intermediaries.

Prior to Deutsche Bank, he was a partner in the London financial planning team at Tilney, which has recently re-branded to Evelyn Partners following the merger with Smith & Williamson in September 2020. He has also worked as a wealth advisor at Barclays Wealth, the firm added.  

Reeves, who will report to Mark Pollock, will help grow the firm’s offering of providing international financial services, including pre-arrival planning for clients who want to come to the UK, structuring advice for those wanting to leave the UK, and ongoing advice to UK-resident but non-domiciled clients.  

Welcoming him to the firm, Pollock, partner in Evelyn Partners’ London financial planning team, said he has a considerable amount of experience and expertise in this space and he will be instrumental in helping the firm continue to grow its presence in the market.  

“I am really excited to re-join following the launch of the new brand. We have a real opportunity to lead the industry in the UK and are perfectly placed to provide top quality advice to clients,” Reeves added.   

Downing
London-based investment manager Downing has appointed Roger Lewis to the newly-created role of head of ESG.

He is joining Downing from River and Mercantile where he was group head of ESG, responsible for implementing and overseeing the group’s ESG philosophy and core principles across its investment divisions, the firm said. In his new role, Lewis will lead Downing’s ESG strategy, reporting to James Weaver, COO, it added.

Prior to joining River and Mercantile, Lewis worked at Aviva Investors, where he was responsible for aligning ESG strategy and factors with investment functions across its £47.3 billion ($57.4 billion) real assets platform.

Welcoming him to the firm, Weaver, said: “Having worked and communicated with investors across a range of asset classes as well as having a deep understanding of ESG issues, he will play a key part in developing exciting ESG opportunities for our investors.”

“As a business we are committed to placing ESG factors at the heart of everything we do and he will play a key role driving that agenda across our funds, investment trusts and tax-efficient products within our principal business areas of renewable energy, infrastructure, property, and healthcare,” he added.