Monday, February 20, 2012
GAM hires team to lead UK discretionary fund management service for independent financial advisers
GAM has appointed Charles Hepworth and James McDaid in the roles of Investment Director and Investment Manager, respectively. They are expected to join GAM in the second quarter of 2012 and will be responsible for developing and managing outsourcing solutions for UK independent financial advisers as part of GAM’s discretionary fund management service.
GAM is to expand its managed portfolios team with the recruitment of two investment specialists fully dedicated to providing actively managed multi-asset class solutions to UK independent financial advisers. These hires are part of the expansion of the company’s discretionary fund management (DFM) capability.
Independent financial advisers will be able to provide their clients with access to GAM's strategy selection, asset allocation and manager selection expertise via two offerings managed by Hepworth and McDaid: a range of model portfolios that cover a broad range of risk profiles, and a customised portfolio service providing clients with multi-asset solutions tailored to their specific requirements. These offerings are specifically designed to meet advisers’ growing need for investment outsourcing as a result of the Retail Distribution Review (RDR).
Charles Hepworth and James McDaid will both join GAM from Quilter where Hepworth has been responsible for its managed portfolio service (MPS) since 2001. In this role he has overseen the investment management of private client portfolios, working closely with independent financial advisers and significantly growing assets under management. McDaid is a Senior Associate in the MPS business at Quilter and is responsible for the investment management of private client portfolios.
Hepworth will join GAM’s DFM investment committee for managed portfolios and report to Graham Wainer, GAM’s global head of private clients & portfolio management. McDaid will report to Hepworth and both will be based in GAM’s London offices.
Commenting on the appointments, Graham Wainer said: “We are delighted that Charles and James have decided to join us. With their in-depth understanding of the requirements of UK independent financial advisers, they will be invaluable in leveraging GAM’s existing strategy selection, asset allocation and manager selection expertise for this growing client segment. By blending their expertise in running model portfolios with GAM’s long-standing experience in managing tailored private client assets and providing solutions to institutions and private banks, we believe we will have a highly attractive solution for advisers and their clients.”