BennBridge, a subsidiary of Australian multi-affiliate manager Benelong Funds Management, has taken on board the emerging markets team which announced its departure from Janus Henderson this year, under a new UK-based global affiliate, Skerryvore Asset Management. It has confirmed six people into key roles.
Skerryvore’s managing partner Glen Finegan, who announced the UK-based boutique in partnership with BennBridge in October, said the team brought a wealth of experience in global emerging market equities investing. They included: Stephen Deane, Nicholas Cowley, Ian Tabberer, Michael Cahoon and Ronan Kelleher, who join Skerryvore as portfolio managers; and Ben Lawson as head of dealing.
Finegan said: “I have worked with all six of the team in the past, and they share a dedicated investment focus and knowledge. They are an excellent fit for the Skerryvore business, which aims to invest responsibly in emerging markets with the goal of generating long-term returns, with an unwavering focus on the quality of the businesses in which it invests.”
The group has mostly worked together not only at Janus Henderson, more recently, but also the former Colonial First State Global Asset Management Hong Kong subsidiary First State Stewart (now a part of First Sentier Investors). Finegan left Janus Henderson in May this year, followed by the others. Their recent careers include:
. Deane has nine years of financial industry experience, including with Janus Henderson and First State Stewart. Prior to this he was chief technology officer at Digital Barrier and a senior manager at Accenture.
. Cowley has 22 years of financial industry experience, beginning his career at Chiswell Associates as an overseas equities assistant before becoming a fund manager in 2001. He was most recently an emerging markets fund manager at Janus Henderson.
. Tabberer was previously at Janus Henderson, and has also worked at Baillie Gifford and Scottish Widows Investment Partnership as a North American and global investor. He has 17 years of financial industry experience.
. Cahoon has eight years of financial industry experience, with roles in emerging markets both with Janus Henderson and Ashmore Group.
. Kelleher has nine years of experience, previously working on global equity portfolios at Janus Henderson.
. Lawson was previously head of dealing for Stewart Investors, and has 13 years of experience dealing in emerging markets.
Bennelong and BennBridge partner with 12 boutiques in Australia and internationally, with assets under management totalling about A$12 billion, specialising in actively managed equity funds. The boutiques invest across Australian, UK, Asian and global equities, listed global infrastructure and real estate, as well as global emerging markets.
Craig Bingham, Bennelong chief executive, said the high-calibre Skerryvore team had a long-standing track record on delivering results for investors. “I have worked with all six of the team in the past, and they share a dedicated investment focus and knowledge. They are an excellent fit for the Skerryvore business, which aims to invest responsibly in emerging markets with the goal of generating long-term returns, with an unwavering focus on the quality of the businesses in which it invests,” he said.
As an aside: Skerryvore is a remote Scottish island which is home to the tallest lighthouse in the country, built with some difficulty in the 1830s on the “Great Skerry’, or rock, after which the island is named. In more recent times it is also known after a Celtic rock band which formed in nearby islands but is now based in Glasgow.
Greg Bright is publisher of Investor Strategy News (Australia)