Recent and upcoming fund manager changes

Schroders UK Opportunities

Last week Schroders announced that Julie Dean, manager of the Schroder UK Opportunities fund, has resigned from her post. Julie joined Schroders when they merged with, and re-branded, Cazenove Capital last July. Matt Hudson, manager of the Schroder UK Alpha Income fund, will be taking over, with immediate effect.

Whilst Schroders have assured investors that the objective will remain the same, but with a different lead manager, Chelsea have removed the fund from the Chelsea Selection and downgraded it to a generic “hold” rating.


Threadneedle UK

Threadneedle has also announced that the managers of the Threadneedle UK fund, Simon Brazier and Blake Hutchins, and three support analysts are leaving to join Investec Asset Management, in November.

The 'fantastic five' will work alongside Alistair Mundy, manager of Investec Cautious Managed and Investec UK Special Situations funds, the latter being in the Chelsea Selection. Simon will continue to run the UK Equity funds consistent with his current strategy.

Chris Kinder, who manages the Threadneedle UK Extended Alpha fund, has been appointed the new manager of the Threadneedle UK fund, with immediate effect and Leigh Harrison has also taken responsibility for the Threadneedle UK equity team. We believe that the team will be in safe hands, but for the time being Chelsea have given the Threadneedle UK fund a generic rating of “hold”.


Ignis Equity fund manager changes

Standard Life have recently completed their deal to buy Ignis Asset Management, and the process of integrating the companies has now started.

The management of all Ignis equity funds has now been handed to Standard Life Investments' teams. The wider integration is expected to take between 18 months and two years. There is, currently, no change to the Ignis property team.

This transition will take some time to settle down, but in the meantime Chelsea have placed the Ignis funds as a generic “hold” rating.


PSigma Asset Management fund name change

Following the acquisition of PSigma by Miton Group plc. in July 2013, PSigma funds will be renamed by Miton across the whole PSigma range. This will come into affect from 4th November 2014.

Miton have assured investors that there will be no change to the investment objectives, and the policies of the funds and the change of name will have no impact on the investment strategy for the funds or the way they are managed.

In addition, the name “PSigma Unit Trust Managers Limited” will become “Miton Unit Trust Managers Limited”.