Mark Whitehead and his global equity income team are set to join Sanlam UK as the firm looks to bolster its investment offering.
Sanlam UK announced today (July 20) Mr Whitehead, along with his colleagues Alan Porter and Laurie Lochtie, would join the firm at the end of 2020.
The team’s arrival will come with the launch of a global equity income fund focusing on sustainable dividends, seeded with £200m of existing Sanlam assets.
Mr Whitehead said: “We are thrilled to be joining the growing Sanlam Group, and excited to play our part in expanding the investment offering for its clients.
“Alongside the highly regarded global high quality team, our approach, focusing on sustainable and growing income opportunities within global equities, will provide more choice and balance for investors.”
Sanlam said the move was part of a long-term strategy to build the group’s expertise in global equities, which it described as a “critical component” of the investment offering for the group.
Mr Whitehead was head of income at Martin Currie since November 2015, managing a range of funds, having previously worked at Sarasin and Partners, also as head of income.
Joining Martin Currie in 2008 and 2012 respectively, Mr Porter and Mr Lochtie also worked in the fund house’s income teams.
Tom Carroll, head of asset management at Sanlam, said: “The appointment of Mark Whitehead and his team to Sanlam is a great step forward for the group and our efforts to expand our investment offering.
“The experience Mark and his team will bring will mean Sanlam clients have access to two excellent and complementary global equity offerings, enabling clients to better diversify their exposure to markets across the world.”
Mr Carroll said the new team would “complement” its existing Global High Quality fund, led by Pieter Fourie.
“We believe introducing an additional fund with a complementary style allows us to better deliver consistently strong returns across the cycle for clients.”
imogen.tew@ft.com
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