Sarasin & Partners
London-headquartered , a listed boutique investment management, wealth planning, and corporate broking group, has appointed Barry Smead (pictured) as head of Investment Management. Smead will co-lead Oberon’s Investment Management division alongside Phil Smeaton, chief investment officer.
Most recently, Smead served as chief operating officer of Investment Management at JM Finn, where he oversaw activities across the division, implemented strategic growth initiatives, and led teams responsible for operational governance, analytics, and business development support. He was a permanent member of the firm’s management committee. Prior to JM Finn, Barry worked at Hermes Fund Managers as COO of business development and head of IT and operations management office.
Smead has more than three decades of experience in global financial services, with a career spanning senior leadership roles in private client investment management, institutional and wholesale asset management, and business development across the UK, Europe, North America, and Asia. Prior to that, at Invesco Perpetual, he worked in global leadership positions within technology. His expertise includes building and leading high-performing teams, implementing strategic change, and developing strong client-focused business growth frameworks.
“His depth of experience in leading investment management functions, driving operational excellence, and supporting business growth will be instrumental as we continue to deliver on our strategic ambitions,” Simon McGivern, chief executive officer of Oberon, said. “Working closely with Phil Smeaton, our chief investment officer, Barry will help lead the division into its next phase of development.”
Quilter Cheviot
has appointed Yumna Yusuf (pictured below) as a responsible investment analyst.
Yumna Yusuf
Yusuf, who will report to Gemma Woodward, head of responsible investment at Quilter Cheviot, will support the firm’s stewardship programme and thematic engagement efforts.
The responsible investment team at Quilter Cheviot oversees the company’s stewardship programme, ESG integration and ESG screening as well as supporting more targeted solutions for clients who want their portfolios to reflect specific interests or preferences.
Previously, Yusuf was a climate engagement associate within Schroders sustainable investment team, where she co-developed and implemented a firm-wide multi-year climate engagement and escalation framework. Prior to this, Yusuf spent six years in government roles, including at Ofsted, the Department for Transport and three years at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy where she served as an official climate negotiator for the UN COP25 and COP26.