In his new London-based role Mr Harlow will report to Mark Beveridge, global head of AXA Framlington, and work closely alongside Chris St John, also a portfolio manager at the company, within the nine-strong UK equities team which operates across the market-cap spectrum.

“Dan Harlow is a greatly respected and successful small cap investor with both closed end and open end fund experience. His appointment is a strong indication of our commitment and intention to grow our UK smaller companies franchise within AXA Framlington’s highly experienced UK equities team,” said Mr Beveridge.

Mr Harlow joins AXA from Montanaro Asset Management where he was head of fund management and manager of the Montanaro UK smaller companies investment trust, as well as a board director.

AXA Framlington had €16.7 billion (around $24.3 billion) in client assets under management as at 30 September 2009, and has 51 specialised fund managers based in Paris and London.