The group has been working to regain footing after closing its stricken bonds fund last year which triggered the departure of bond funds manager Tim Haywood under accusations that he mismanaged the fund causing a mass of outflows.

As new comms head for the Zurich-listed group, Naylor joins from Puma Energy, where he was interim head of corporate affairs and marketing. He is on familiar ground in the Swiss market having led communications in Zurich for Credit Suisse, and more recently Geneva-based for Puma. He has also worked in communications at the Hess Corporation, Centrica, HSBC and the Confederation of British Industry.

Peter Sanderson, group CEO, said: “Appointing a communicator with Charles’s knowledge and wealth of experience will allow us to significantly upgrade the skillset of our communications and investor relations function, which is vital at this important moment in the firm’s history.”

Naylor said he was excited to help GAM "tell its story as the company looks to restructure and return to growth.”