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

Pictet Asset Management
Pictet Asset Management has appointed Malick Badjie (pictured) with immediate effect as global co-head of sales, and a member of the executive committee, alongside Niall Quinn, global co-head of sales.

Previously, Badjie spent nine years at Robeco, most recently as global head of sales and marketing and member of the executive committee. He has more than 23 years’ experience in senior client-facing roles in London, the US and the Middle East. Both Badjie and Quinn will report directly to Raymond Sagayam, managing partner and co-CEO of Pictet Asset Management.

Badjie is succeeding Luca Di Patrizi who, after 27 years at the firm, will step down from his current role as head of European sales in September 2026. Di Patrizi will move to the position of strategic advisor, focusing, until his retirement, on specific projects and initiatives aimed at accelerating Pictet AM’s business growth and transformation. Di Patrizi will continue to report to Sagayam.

“His expertise and vision will reinforce our commitment to delivering enduring quality and exceptional service to our clients.” Sagayam said. “I know that Malick, working together with Niall and Derick Bader, our head of marketing products, will drive further growth and innovation at Pictet AM. We are also pleased that Luca will remain with us for the foreseeable future.”

Universal Investment Group
Universal Investment Group, a European super ManCo and fund services provider, has appointed Nils Mordt (pictured below) as head of international sales and relationship management. Based in London, he will lead the firm’s sales and client relationship strategy across international markets.

Nils Mordt

Mordt will be responsible for driving commercial growth across key markets, deepening strategic client partnerships, and aligning international sales activity with Universal Investment’s long-term objectives, the firm said in a statement.

Mordt reviously served as managing director and head of regional coverage UK, US Middle East, and Asia, at CACEIS. Prior to that, he spent more than six years at RBC Investor Services, most recently as head of UK client coverage. Previously, he held senior positions at CME Group.

“We are delighted to welcome Nils to Universal Investment as we continue to scale our international business and strengthen our commercial leadership,” Antonio Soler, chief commercial officer of Universal investment Group said. “Nils brings deep expertise in asset servicing and a strong track record of building long-term client partnerships, further enhancing our ability to deliver best-in-class, client-focused solutions across jurisdictions.”

Alongside its international expansion, Universal Investment is increasing the strength of its leadership in its core DACH market by strategically expanding roles and remits. As part of this, Marcus Kuntz has been appointed group head of strategic partner management and fund distribution, where he will be responsible for driving strategic partnerships and enhancing the visibility and growth of the Universal Investment brand across the region.

In addition, Dirk Grosshans’ role as head of business development DACH will be expanded; he will oversee sales efforts across the full spectrum of asset classes in the DACH region, covering both asset managers and asset owners.

Nils Mordt, Marcus Kuntz, and Dirk Grosshans will all report to Antonio Soler, chief commercial officer of Universal Investment Group.

Muzinich & Co
Muzinich & Co, a global public and private corporate credit specialist, has appointed Shailaja Krishnamurthy (pictured below) as director, business development as part of its continuing expansion in the Middle East.
 

Shailaja Krishnamurthy

Krishnamurthy, who will be based in the firm’s Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) office, will work with Filomena Cocco, managing director – global business development, to support the growth of Muzinich’s regional business.

She has more than 13 years of experience in wealth management in senior investment positions across leading financial institutions such as Jupiter Wealth, RAKBANK and Klay Group. Krishnamurthy has worked with private and institutional clients across portfolio management, product strategy and fund selection, giving her deep insight into the local investor base and regulatory landscape. She holds a master’s in finance with distinction from London Business School and is a CFA charterholder.

Muzinich & Co recently established its office in ADGM, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s long-term commitment to the region. The office enhances Muzinich’s ability to serve institutional and private clients locally, providing access to its global expertise in public and private corporate credit.

"We are delighted to welcome Shailaja to the team,” Cocco said. “Her strong track record across portfolio management, client advisory and product development, combined with her long-term experience and understanding of the regional market, will be invaluable as we continue to build and expand our presence in the Middle East."

Wedlake Bell
London-based law firm Wedlake Bell has appointed Hetty Gleave from Fladgate as a partner and has promoted Paul Ashcroft and Rachel Fitzgerald to the partnership.

Gleave has more than 30 years’ experience advising high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals on complex family matters. Her practice spans all aspects of relationship breakdown, including divorce and separation, financial remedy proceedings, pre- and post-nuptial agreements and disputes relating to children, frequently involving international elements. In addition to her family law practice, Gleave has a specialism in art and cultural property law, advising on disputes involving title, authenticity and ownership of valuable artworks and luxury assets, including their treatment following the breakdown of a marriage.

Gleave’s arrival follows the recent hire of Rebecca Christie, who also joined the firm from Fladgate, boosting both the family and art and luxury offering.

Ashcroft is a partner in Wedlake Bell’s pensions and employee benefits team, where he advises trustees, employers, charities and private clients on the full spectrum of pensions and employee benefits matters, including governance, scheme strategy, liability management projects and disputes.

Fitzgerald is a partner in the firm’s property litigation team, specialising in complex and high-value real estate disputes. Her practice includes commercial landlord and tenant matters, vacant possession strategies, development-related disputes and rights of light claims, acting for a range of corporate and private clients.

“We are seeing real momentum across the firm, driven by a clear strategy around investing in people and developing our core practice areas. Hetty and Rebecca are both superb additions, and their arrivals demonstrate the calibre of lawyers choosing to build their practices at Wedlake Bell,” Martin Arnold, managing partner, said. “Paul and Rachel’s promotions are extremely well deserved. They exemplify the technical excellence, commercial judgement and collaborative approach that define our partnership, and we are delighted to welcome them as partners at this exciting time for the firm.”

Aberdeen Investments
Aberdeen Investments has promoted Kate McGrath to head of ESG, fixed income. She succeeds Marianne Zangerl who has been appointed global head of multi asset and alternative investment solutions, as recently reported here. Reporting to Jonathan Mondillo, global head of fixed income, McGrath will work closely with Zangerl to ensure a smooth transition.

McGrath will be responsible for ESG oversight across the fixed income department’s ESG and sustainability-focused strategies and mandates, and thematic strategies spanning the UN Sustainable Development Goals and climate transition. She is accountable for setting and delivering the fixed income ESG strategy. This includes Aberdeen’s Fixed Income Engagement Roadmap, which sets out the processes and priority themes underpinning Aberdeen’s active engagement with issuers, as well as escalation processes and outcomes across portfolios. McGrath will also lead the continued development and implementation of ESG processes, tools and investment frameworks across fixed income, and play a central role in global client engagement on sustainability, regulation and climate transition.

McGrath, who has more than eight years’ experience in sustainability and ESG, was part of Aberdeen’s sustainable investment team and joined the Aberdeen fixed income ESG team in 2020. Most recently, she served as a senior manager, leading daily ESG activity across investments.