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

Morgan Lewis
UK-headquartered Morgan Lewis, a global law firm, has appointed two investment management partners, Victoria Ferres and Sami Ben Dechiche. They join the firm’s Dubai office from A&O Shearman and Simmons & Simmons, respectively.

They will strengthen Morgan Lewis’s regional footprint across three offices – Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh – and deepen its full-service capabilities for clients investing in the Middle East, the firm said in a statement.

Ferres advises financial institutions, nonfinancial institutions, and government-related authorities on a broad range of financial regulatory, fintech, compliance, and financial crime-related matters. She also regularly helps clients design and implement internal policies, procedures, and systems and controls in line with international compliance standards and best practices.

Ben Dechiche covers fund structuring, formation, and investment matters, advising fund managers and institutional investors on regulated investment platforms. He is fluent in English and French and conversant in Arabic (Tunisian dialect).

“With Victoria and Sami joining our 170-strong global investment management team, Morgan Lewis is even better positioned to guide clients through the region’s evolving regulatory landscape and expanding investment opportunities,” Jami McKeon, chair of Morgan Lewis, said.

“Global asset managers are looking to the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as increasingly critical markets, while regional sovereign wealth funds continue to expand their direct participation in GP structures and seed the next generation of local managers. Victoria and Sami’s arrival represents an important next step in the continued expansion of our tier-one investment management practice into Saudi Arabia,” said Timothy Levin, leader of the firm’s investment management practice.”

The appointments follow the firm’s recent launch in Riyadh.

Fidelity International Investec Bank
Fidelity International, a global asset manager and retirement savings business, has appointed Samantha Ricciardi as head of EMEA, effective start of March.

Ricciardi, currently CEO at Santander Asset Management, will be responsible for leading the continued growth and strategic development of Fidelity International’s EMEA business. She will be based in Madrid and spend regular time across the region.

In her role at Santander, Ricciardi led the transformation of the business into a top-tier European asset manager, achieving strong year-on-year growth and spearheading a wide range of strategic initiatives. Previously, she served in senior roles at BlackRock, including managing director for EMEA and country head for BlackRock Mexico.

“Samantha is a dynamic and highly accomplished leader with a remarkable track record across the EMEA region,” Keith Metters, president at Fidelity International, said. “We are delighted to welcome her to Fidelity International as we continue to strengthen our leadership team and accelerate our strategic ambitions for clients and partners.”

Ricciardi’s appointment follows Christian Staub’s decision to step back from his current role as head of EMEA next year and transition into an advisory position. Keith Metters added: “We are grateful for Christian’s significant contributions and are pleased that he will continue to support the business in an advisory capacity.”

Evelyn Partners
UK-based Evelyn Partners, a wealth management group, has appointed Victoria Gammon (pictured) as partner in financial planning.

Gammon, who is a Chartered and Certified Financial Planner, and a fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute, will bring more than 20 years’ experience in financial planning – as well as her specialism in Court of Protection and providing bespoke financial advice to individuals in receipt of personal injury and clinical negligence settlements.

Joining from IM Asset Management, where she was associate director, Gammon will be based at Evelyn Partners’ Nottingham office, serving clients across the Midlands, and further afield.

‘We are thrilled to welcome Vicky to the team. Her exceptional skills and experience will not only strengthen our capabilities but also bring fresh energy and ideas that we’re genuinely excited about,” managing partner Niraj Vyas said. “With her specialist expertise in Court of Protection and high-value personal injury, we’ll be better positioned to support our partners across the professional services community and deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients alike.

Gammon was named City of London Wealth Manager of the Year 2025, in recognition of her dedication to delivering exceptional advice and outcomes for clients. Previously, she worked for Towry and RBS Private Banking.