Working under investment director Tim Cockerill, the equity research team will be led by Sunderland. Sunderland was formerly private equity research manager at Charterhouse Capital Partners and has also spent nine years at Goldman Sachs. Prior to his appointment, the company employed a contractor to lead equity research.

Meanwhile, Cockerill manages the equity team, researching stocks across the FTSE100, FTSE250, small cap and AIM.

The new analysts, all based in London, are Jeremy Browne, Clementine Dymond and Andrew Wace. They respectively join from Fairfax, Whitefoord Wealth Management and AXA Investment Managers.

“We expect assets under management to increase very significantly over the next few years and further strengthening our UK equity research capability is a crucial part of our strategic growth plan and commitment to remaining whole of market,” said Rowan Dartington’s executive chairman, Graham Coxell. 

Rowan Dartington, which St James's Place announced it was acquiring last summer for up to £34 million ($49 million), is responsible for over £1.2 billion in client assets. Last month, the company appointed John Betteridge, a prominent figure in wealth management, as chief investment officer.