Martin Currie, a global active equity specialist headquartered in Edinburgh and part of the Franklin Templeton group, is delighted to announce that Ben Russon and Richard Bullas will co-head Martin Currie’s UK Equity team effective 1 October 2022. Both Ben and Richard will report into Michael Browne, Global Head of Investment Strategy and Oversight at Martin Currie.
Browne said: “These promotions are in recognition of Ben and Richard’s long-term and successful individual contributions to the growth of the UK Equity team. They demonstrate Martin Currie’s commitment to develop leadership talent in line with a thoughtful and strategic succession plan. Both Ben and Richard have added significant and meaningful value to the team over the years and, in their new roles, will continue to work closely and collaboratively to co-head the UK Equity team.”
In his expanded role, Ben will now lead the focus on UK large caps and will oversee portfolio managers Jo Rands and Will Bradwell, who will report directly into him effective 1 October 2022.
Meanwhile, Richard will continue to lead on UK small and mid-caps and he will oversee portfolio managers Dan Green and Marcus Tregoning as well as investment analyst Courtney Westcarr, who will report into him effective 1 October 2022.
In addition, Colin Morton has informed the firm that he will retire from the investment management industry effective 31 December 2022. Colin has spent over 39 years working in the UK investment management industry and has been with the firm since 2011 when Franklin Templeton acquired Rensburg Fund Management (subsequently rebranded as Franklin UK Equity team and now Martin Currie UK Equity Team).
Martyn Gilbey, UK Country Head at Franklin Templeton, commented: “Franklin Templeton and Martin Currie are deeply appreciative of Colin’s leadership and his decades of service, commitment and dedication to the firm. We send him our very best wishes in his well-deserved retirement. Colin will continue to work closely with the team to fully transition his fund management responsibilities over the coming months. Under Ben’s leadership, there will be no changes to any of the funds’ investment philosophy or process.”
Effective 31 December 2022, Colin will relinquish the portfolio manager responsibilities on the UK equity funds on which he is named. Ben will be become Lead Portfolio Manager on the following funds and will continue to be supported by Portfolio Managers Will Bradwell and Jo Rands. He continues to be Lead Portfolio Manager on the UK-registered FTF Franklin UK Opportunities Fund.
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