The latest moves and appointments in wealth management in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East and other select locations.

Payden & Rygel
Los Angeles-headquartered Payden & Rygel, a large privately-owned global investment advisor, has just increased its focus on Benelux and Nordic investors, with the appointment of Dennis Kwist (pictured) as senior vice president, business development, with responsibility for Northern Europe.  

In this newly-created role, Kwist will aim to build on the firm’s investor base in these regions, where Payden manages towards €3 billion ($3.2 billion) in a series of institutional mandates, the firm said in a statement.

Kwist, a 15-year veteran of Wellington Management, where he was MD, head of business development for Northern Europe, will operate from the firm’s London and Milan offices, concentrating on promoting Payden’s UCITS funds and expanding existing segregated account business by adding new institutional relationships. 

With $161.7 billion under management, Payden & Rygel is a large global investment advisor, focused on managing fixed income and equity portfolios.

Alvarez & Marsal
Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M)  has expanded its EMEA corporate finance practice with the appointment of Manuel Sammut as a managing director and head of business and tech-enabled services within the practice.

He joins A&M with more than 20 years’ experience, having held a number of senior roles, the firm said in a statement. He will support the team’s management to lead the corporate finance practice across EMEA, which comprises over 100 people across 12 offices, including 16 managing directors globally.

Prior to joining A&M, Sammut served as a managing director with William Blair and was a partner at KPMG, where he led the business and tech-enabled services M&A practices in Europe and the UK. He started his career in investment banking with DC Advisory, spending eleven years advising clients on multiple landmark transactions.

Sammut will also lead the corporate finance practice’s business and tech-enabled services sector team, the firm added.

JTC
London Stock Exchange-listed professional services provider JTC has appointed Sean Walsh as head of private client services in Guernsey. 

In his new role, Walsh will lead JTC’s Guernsey-based team of private client experts, who administer a range of structures for multi-jurisdictional high net worth clients, the firm said in a statement. 

Walsh joined JTC as a director in 2022 and has worked in the fiduciary services sector for over 20 years. He has experience in supporting high and ultra-high net worth families and institutions, with the administration of complex multi-jurisdictional structures. He has particular expertise in working with UK, European and Middle Eastern families.

Prior to joining JTC, Walsh worked for an independent fiduciary firm where he developed a business development strategy while also overseeing a team specialising in the establishment, management and operation of offshore structures for ultra-high net worth individuals around the globe.

Walsh is also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Vermeer Partners
Vermeer Partners has just appointed Rob Hodgson as financial planning director within Vermeer Financial Planning.

He will work alongside Chris Hogarth, managing director, Rebecca Chinn, senior paraplanner and Audra Cowgill, financial planning administrator. Hodgson has worked in similar roles for over 15 years with firms including Cazenove Capital and Lloyds Private Bank, the firm said in a statement.

As an experienced advisor to individuals, charities, trusts and limited companies, he will provide advice on all aspects of wealth generation and preservation, based on a foundation of tax structuring, layered with strategic investment planning, the firm added.