Ogier
Global intellectual property expert Sophie Peat has joined the Ogier partnership to spearhead Ogier's IP team. Her arrival brings Ogier's partnership to 100-strong.
She brings over a decade of top-tier international experience to her practice, which encompasses the clearance, prosecution, exploitation and enforcement of the full suite of IP rights, including brands and trademarks, copyright, industrial designs and patents, throughout the world.
Throughout her career she has effectively and creatively managed the IP portfolios of some of the world's leading companies across a wide variety of sectors, first with a focus on the EU and Asia while at King & Wood Mallesons LLP (previously SJ Berwin LLP) in London and, later, with a focus on the Caribbean, LatAm and offshore financial world as partner at a specialist IP firm based in the Cayman Islands where she led the practice.
She contributes to the legislative subcommittee advising the Cayman Islands government as to the desirability and effect of proposed legislation concerning Intellectual Property law modernisation and reform and played an integral role in the drafting of The Trade Marks Act, 2016 and accompanying regulations.
Her arrival comes amid continued strategic growth for the firm following Ogier's merger with Ogier Leman in Ireland.
Cayman Islands practice partner James Bergstrom said: "Sophie's arrival is excellent news for Ogier's intellectual property offering as we continue to expand our offering in response to client demand. Her reputation in this space is unrivalled and we look forward to working alongside her."
ACA Group
ACA Group (ACA), the leading governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) advisor in financial services, announced that Marie Luchet has joined the firm as Managing Director of ESG, heading up the practice's strategy and vision for Europe.
She brings 20+ years of experience in sustainable finance, ESG research, and corporate sustainability. She previously the Director of Continental Europe with Principles for Responsible Investment (UN-PRI), the leading global association in sustainable finance.
There, she oversaw the design and implementation of PRI's European strategy, which included supporting investors in implementing ESG integration practices for all types of investment strategies and asset classes and tailoring go-to-market strategies for PRI's environmental, climate, social, and governance outputs.
Prior to this, she served as Head of Responsible Investment with ECOFI Investissements and as an ESG sell-side analyst with CIC Market Solutions. At ECOFI, she designed and implemented the ESG integration strategy for listed equity and fixed income portfolios, supervised the collection of ESG factors, designed the internal ESG rating platform and created the investment products' ESG reporting.
She also developed the firm's engagement policy, conducting dialogs with investee companies' senior management to raise awareness and drive change on their ESG issues.
Dan Mistler, partner, head of ESG Advisory of ACA Group, said: "We couldn't be more delighted that Marie has chosen ACA for her next adventure. Marie is a truly experienced leader in ESG. She has spent her career at the forefront of sustainable investing, on the asset manager, corporate and nonprofit sides, including most recently playing a senior role for the PRI in continental Europe.
"We see the ESG market changing, and Marie's expertise and leadership will help ACA's clients stay ahead of the curve, particularly in drawing on her first-hand experience in global best practices for ESG integration."
CCLA
CCLA Investment Management, a responsible investor pioneer and the UK's largest charity investment manager, has announced the appointment of three new hires to support its push into the UK retail market.
Sam Pennefather, Samuel Lynes and Alexandra Dacres-Hogg join CCLA's retail distribution team in newly created roles in London, reporting into Jasper Berens, who was appointed last year to spearhead CCLA's new wealth, intermediary and retail business.
This announcement follows last week's launch of the company's first fund for individual investors - the CCLA Better World Global Equity Fund.
Sam Pennefather will join CCLA in the Summer as Head of Strategic Relationships from Jupiter Asset Management where he worked for over a decade, most recently as Director & Head of Strategic Alliances in the retail distribution team.
At CCLA, he will be responsible for building relationships with Strategic Partners across the intermediary landscape in the UK, including placing CCLA's recently launched fund into intermediary and investment platforms, research houses, national and network financial advisers and life insurance companies. Before Jupiter, Pennefather worked at Fidelity International.
Joining him in the team will be Samuel Lynes who has been recruited from Majedie Asset Management to join CCLA as Senior Sales Manager. At Majedie, he was a Client Director focused on growing the company's retail presence and developing wholesale relationships. Previously, he was at Woodford Investment Management for three years and M&G Investment Management for nearly 20 years, working across investment and sales roles in London.
Alexandra Dacres-Hogg joined CCLA in April as Sales Manager from Muzinich & Co, where she worked in UK wholesale distribution. Prior to this, she held sales roles at Sanlam Investments and M&G where she focused on discretionary and wholesale client relationships and distribution.
At CCLA, they will both be tasked with building CCLA's relationships with London-based Discretionary Wealth Managers and placing CCLA's products for retail investors into client portfolios.
CCLA has also been working with experienced marketing consultant, Malcolm Dodds since April to secure distribution of the CCLA Better World Global Equity Fund through the UK retail and intermediary platforms.
In addition to these hires, CCLA is looking to appoint a marketing communications manager and a sales support executive in the immediate future, as well as three Regional Sales Managers to build relationships across the UK over the course of the next year.
Jasper Berens, head of client relationships and distribution, said: "I am delighted to welcome Sam, Alexandra and Samuel to our growing UK retail sales team. All three are highly regarded across the industry and bring a wealth of client relationship experience.
"After years of our non-profit clients asking us if they could invest their personal money, and with the rising interest in ESG oriented investment approaches, now is the perfect time for CCLA to be moving into the UK retail market. This team will be invaluable in enabling this expansion and I look forward to working with them all to bring CCLA's strong investment credentials combined with genuine and authentic ESG approach to a wider group of people. We are building a formidable team here at CCLA and I'm immensely excited about the future."
Franklin Templeton
Franklin Templeton has named Gianluca Maione as head of intermediary sales, Italy. Based in Milan, Gianluca joined Franklin Templeton on 8 June and reports to Michele Quinto, Country Head and Branch Manager for Italy.
In his new role, he focuses on further developing Franklin Templeton's intermediary sales business in Italy, targeting financial professionals, advisory and discretionary. His main responsibilities include setting and executing the strategy for the country's intermediary channel as well as leading the Italian intermediary sales team, which consists of six sales distribution professionals.
Quinto said: "I am pleased to welcome Gianluca to the team, he will make a significant contribution as head of intermediary sales. One of our main goals is to increase our footprint as a local player and Gianluca, with his proven knowledge of the Italian asset management industry, will be instrumental in strengthening relationships with our distribution partners and lead the development of projects and dedicated activity to leverage the added value of Franklin Templeton's global expertise and boutique specialisation."
Julian Ide, Head of EMEA distribution, Franklin Templeton added: "Gianluca is an industry veteran with over two decades of experience in financial services and a successful track record in the Italian retail maket. I am delighted to welcome him to Franklin Templeton as we continue to grow our Italian footprint."
Most recently, Maione was country head for Italy at Ninety One (formerly Investec AM) in Milan where he led the growth of their Italian business. He has also previously served as an Executive Director focused on business development at Morgan Stanley IM.
Close Brothers Asset Management
Close Brothers Asset Management (CBAM) announces the appointment of two senior advice hires, as the company further strengthens its leadership team across the North, Midlands and South West of England, offering bespoke advice services across the country.
David Mellett and Ben Staniforth both join as managing directors, each bringing with them over 25 years of financial services experience.
Mellet will be based in the North of England, focusing on CBAM's growth ambitions across the region, and will play a key role in growing the company's' presence in the North West and improving our capabilities for HNW clients. He joins from Santander Private Bank, where he was regional director across the North for nearly seven years.
Shaniforth will split his time across the Midlands and South West areas and will be responsible for growing CBAM's HNW advice capabilities across those areas, managing both regional teams. Ben joins from Chase de Vere, where he managed a successful team of Financial Planners.
John Edmeads, head of advice at Close Brothers Asset Management, said: "We are delighted to have David and Ben join our flourishing senior leadership team. Both have incredibly successful careers across the advice industry and have built up a wide pool of contacts and clients. We are confident CBAM will benefit from their experience and expertise.
"We are focused on continuing to build our rapidly growing regional presence, offering clients a valuable personal and local connection with advice experts. Attracting the top talent from across the industry is vital, to ensure we continue to offer the highest levels of service."
Stonehage Fleming
Stonehage Fleming one of the world's leading international Family Offices, announces that it has made a series of promotions across its Jersey and Guernsey offices.
In the Jersey Family Office division, Ian Ferguson and Rudi Bodenstein have been promoted to Partner.
Joining over twenty years ago, in 2001, Ian works with a number of high net worth families where he provides trustee and director services to their structures. He was previously the Head of the Jersey office's Internal Audit & Compliance division and has a background in banking in the UK and Jersey and spent two years with the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
Rudi joined in 2018 and acts as senior trustee with a specific focus on South African Families, is a lawyer with 17 years of experience in private practice and 14 years in advising and assisting clients with cross-border and fiduciary requirements. Rudi will continue to grow and expand the unique Emerald offering as well as acting as trustee for high net worth families.
Also in the Jersey Family Office division Tatiana De Sousa and Stuart Dixon-Smith have been promoted to Associate Director, Peter Humphries, Jim Jenkins and Christopher Nixon to Manager, and Jason Gould, Carly - Anne Samson and Steeve Batista to Senior Associate.
In the Jersey Group Services division, Milan Pillai has been promoted to Manager and Kelly Frith, Sebastian Plaster and Tom Heulin to Senior Associate.
Stonehage Fleming Family Office in Guernsey has promoted Nel Schoeman to associate director.
Richard Stride, head of family office Stonehage Fleming Jersey, said: "It brings me great pleasure to announce such a strong number of promotions at Stonehage Fleming Jersey this year. We support all our colleagues to develop their potential and these promotions are a well-deserved result of hard work and dedication. We have a brilliantly talented team here in Jersey, and as we grow it's fantastic to be able to recognise these latest advancements."
Iris Harvey, head of family office Stonehage Fleming Guernsey, said: "We're delighted to recognise the vital role our colleagues are playing in the Group's growth and long-term success. Stonehage Fleming supports many of the world's leading families and wealth creators and these promotions reflect the many talented professionals in the Group who offer a range of skills and capabilities rarely found in one firm."
