Switzerland’s Vontobel Asset Management has appointed Sheridan Bowers - latterly of Hermes Fund Managers - as director of its UK and Ireland business.

Bowers previously spent seven years as an associate director with Hermes, overseeing UK consultant relations and client management.

Bowers’ appointment closely follows Vontobel Asset Management’s move to reorganise its sales activities and bring client relationship management under its global product sales unit. Under the changes, Marko Röder, previously head of product and sales management, will oversee the new unit as global head of product sales. He reports to Axel Schwarzer, overall head of the asset management business.

Another recent major change at the group level was May’s election of  Herbert Scheidt, Vontobel’s long-standing chief executive, as chairman of the board of directors; Clara Streit was also elevated to the board for the first time.

As chairman, Scheidt succeeds Dr Urs Widmer, who stepped down as he had reached compulsory retirement age. Dr Widmer had been chairman since 2005, having first joined the Swiss private banking firm’s board in 2003.

Vice chairman Dr Wolfhard Graetz also opted not to stand for re-election, having held the post since 2005. He first joined Vontobel in 1988, ascending to the board in 1997.