Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income manager to retire

5th May 2016 – Columbia Threadneedle announced today that Leigh Harrison, head of equities for Europe and co-manager of the Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income fund, which is on the Chelsea Core Selection, will retire on 30th June 2016.

Richard Colwell, manager of the Elite Rated Threadneedle UK Equity Income fund, will become head of UK equities and manager of the Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income fund. Richard has worked closely with Leigh since he joined the company in 2010, helping to build Columbia Threadneedle’s strong UK equity income franchise. William Davies, currently head of global equities, will become head of equities.

Darius McDermott, managing director of Chelsea, commented: “Richard is a manager we rate very highly in his own right and he has played a significant role in making the Threadneedle UK equity income franchise the success it is today. We have full confidence in him and the Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income will remain on our Chelsea Core Selection list.”

Mark Burgess, Chief Investment Officer, EMEA at Columbia Threadneedle commented: “On behalf of Columbia Threadneedle I would like to recognise Leigh’s truly outstanding investment career. For more than 30 years he has been managing other people’s money with consummate skill, care and professionalism, and has been an example to many colleagues throughout his career. He has built a market-leading UK Equities team with a proven, repeatable investment process and approach. While we are sad to see Leigh go, his retirement has been in the planning for some time and he leaves in place a strong team leader in Richard with whom he has worked for the past six years. The strong legacy Leigh leaves behind is a real credit to him. I’d like to thank Leigh for the substantial contribution he has made over 10 years to our clients, our people and our business. We wish him a long and happy retirement.”

 Leigh Harrison commented: “I have had a fantastic 10 years at Columbia Threadneedle and am proud of all of the things we have achieved over that time. In particular we now have one of the strongest income franchises in the City, we have delivered excellent performance for our clients and raised assets in difficult markets. “I feel the time is now right for me move on and do some of the things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I leave the team in great shape and I am confident they will continue to deliver excellent performance for clients. I wish Richard and all my colleagues all the best for the future.”