Our team
We form enduring relationships with our clients to offer a service tailored to your needs.
Adam Walker
Deputy Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Adam Walker
Deputy Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Since joining R&M in 2010, Adam has worked on the team responsible for delivering our fiduciary management service. Today Adam co-manages the Manager Research process at within our Solutions division, ensuring the regular and detailed monitoring of client portfolios and underlying fund allocations as well as on-going research into new investment products and strategies. Adam began his career at asset manager search and selection specialists bfinance working his way to become a senior member of the delivery team. He graduated from the University of Warwick with a First Class Master of Mathematics.
Ajeet Manjrekar, FIA
Co-Head of Solutions
Ajeet Manjrekar, FIA
Co-Head of Solutions
Ajeet focuses on working with trustees to understand their specific investment and governance needs in order to design innovative solutions to achieve their funding objectives. As a qualified actuary with extensive experience in both investment consulting and asset management, Ajeet is part of the senior management team with responsibility for the quality and evolution of our client-driven services. He re-joined R&M's Solutions business in 2016 having spent some years in Deutsche Bank’s asset management businesses. Prior to that, he was a lead investment consultant advising several of our defined benefit and defined contribution clients. Ajeet has a degree in Mathematics from Warwick University.
Al Bryant, CFA
Head of Emerging Markets, ILC Equities
Al Bryant, CFA
Head of Emerging Markets, ILC Equities
Al Bryant is a portfolio manager and CIO/DOR in the Industrial Life Cycle (ILC) Equity team, specifically managing the Emerging Market (large cap) and Emerging Market Opportunities (smid cap) strategies. Mr. Bryant joined River and Mercantile in June of 2017. Prior to that, Al spent twelve years at Credit Suisse. During that time, Al focused on developing and implementing global equity investment strategies based upon the ILC framework. The ILC framework is a structured global equity investment process that Al has been developing since 2004. Prior to joining Credit Suisse, Mr. Bryant spent four years as a portfolio manager for institutional and private clients at Segall Bryant & Hamill Investment Counsel, based in Chicago. Mr. Bryant holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a BA in Urban Studies and Economics from the College of Wooster
Angela Crawford-Ingle
Non-executive Director
Angela Crawford-Ingle
Non-executive Director
Angela was appointed to the Board on 29 May 2014. Angela is Chair of the Company’s Audit Committee, the Senior Independent Director and additionally sits on the Remuneration, Nomination, Group Board Investment and Risk Committees. Angela is a chartered accountant with extensive audit experience of multinational and listed companies. Angela was a Partner in PricewaterhouseCoopers specialising in financial services for 30 years during which time she led the insurance and investment management division and retired in 2008. In previous roles, Angela served as a Non-Executive Director of Beazley plc and Swinton Group Limited. Angela is a Non-Executive Director and audit chair of Lloyds of London, TP ICAP plc and Openwork Holdings Limited. As a qualified Chartered Accountant, Angela brings substantial industry, and technical financial experience to the Board. Angela contributes scrutiny and oversight to the Board, drawing on her experience of audit and advisory work to multinational and listed companies. Her previous roles as Non-Executive Director of Beazley plc and Swinton Group Limited cement her extensive financial services sector experience. As reflected in her current appointments, Angela has significant experience as a Non- Executive Director and audit committee chair of major financial services institutions. Angela’s audit and industry experience allow her to bring a financial and strategic outlook on diverse subjects in support of the Board and its Committees. Her considerable knowledge and experience continue to be an important contribution to the long-term sustainable success of the Company.
Arabella Townshend
Head of UK Institutional
Arabella Townshend
Head of UK Institutional
Arabella is a director, and Head of UK Institutional Distribution, working with her team to provide investment solutions to UK pension schemes, their consultants and trustees. Arabella joined River and Mercantile in 2010 from Edinburgh University where she gained a degree in Geography.
Caryl Embleton-Thirsk, FIA CMgr
Director, Solutions
Caryl Embleton-Thirsk, FIA CMgr
Director, Solutions
Caryl is a senior team member or team leader on several defined benefit (DB) pension scheme clients. These include clients for which we act as an investment consultant, and clients that have appointed us as fiduciary manager. Caryl is recognised for her ability to explain complex matter simply and has significant input into the strategic investment advice given to each client. Caryl is also a key member of the research team responsible for Dynamic Asset Allocation mandates. As a result, she has experience of both developing client strategies and of conducting fund manager research. This dual role sharpens her expertise in both areas of activity – she understands what clients need from fund managers, and she knows what fund managers can realistically offer. Caryl became a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 2014. She graduated in 2008 with a first class degree in Mathematics with Finance from the University of Manchester.
Charles Benett
Managing Director, PVT Equities
Charles Benett
Managing Director, PVT Equities
Charles graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with a degree in Philosophy, Psychology and Physiology. He spent five years in the Royal Navy, including active service in the Gulf. After studying for an MBA at Columbia Business School, New York, he worked as a sell-side Equity Research Analyst for Toronto Dominion Securities (USA). Returning to the UK, he worked as a Technical Product Manager at Micromuse, worked on his own technology start-up and studied for an MSc in Computer Science at Imperial College, London. Before joining RAMAM, he worked at Advanced Portfolio Technologies (APT) in software development and risk consulting. Charles joined RAMAM in July 2006. Charles is the Managing Director of the PVT Equity team. Charles is a CFA charter holder.
Dan Hanbury
Head of Income & Smaller Companies Strategies, PVT Equities
Dan Hanbury
Head of Income & Smaller Companies Strategies, PVT Equities
Graduating from Loughborough University in 1996 with a First-Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Dan began his career at Schroders on the UK Fund Management desk before joining the research department as an analyst in the UK Research Team. He joined Investec Asset Management in 2000 and was responsible for the UK Smaller Companies Fund and the UK Unconstrained portfolios. Dan was a founding member of R&M Asset Management in 2006, when he launched the UK Equity Smaller Companies and UK Dynamic Equity strategies. Dan currently manages the UK Equity Smaller Companies, UK Equity Income and UK Core strategies.
David Hanratty
Global Head of Distribution
David Hanratty
Global Head of Distribution
David joined R&M in September 2019 having already enjoyed over 30 years' experience in the Financial Services industry. In previous roles David was Managing Director at Pioneer Investments where he had direct responsibility for global distribution across the business. Prior to this he was Sales and Marketing Director at Janus. In his role as Global Head of Distribution, David oversees the distribution teams across the River and Mercantile Group.
George Ensor
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
George Ensor
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
George graduated from Bristol University with an Upper Second Class degree in Chemistry in 2008 before joining Smith & Williamson Investment Management as a graduate trainee where he worked for five years as an analyst and Private Client Investment Manager. George joined R&M in March 2014 as a UK equity analyst and is currently Portfolio Manager of the UK Micro Cap Investment Company. George is a CFA charter holder.
Gerard Francis, FIA
Co-Head of Clients, Solutions
Gerard Francis, FIA
Co-Head of Clients, Solutions
Gerard has responsibility for the delivery of services to clients, ensuring appropriate investment strategies are in place, client teams are suitably resourced and high levels of client satisfaction are maintained. He also leads the development of the firm’s strategic thinking, particularly around Integrated Risk Management, long-term funding targets and innovative ways to manage risk. Gerard is also the investment advisor to a broad range of fiduciary and advisory clients, developing and implementing investment strategies tailored to their specific circumstances. Gerard joined R&M in July 2019, having previously been Head of the Retirement & Investment Consulting Group at Willis Towers Watson. In that role, Gerard combined being a scheme actuary with responsibility for investment consulting for smaller and mid-sized schemes. This included evolving Willis Towers Watson’s fiduciary management capability into a service that was appropriate for schemes of all size, not just the largest clients. He also developed the firm’s Integrated Risk Management service, bringing together the often competing demands of funding, investment, covenant and liability management to deliver coherent strategies for clients. Outside of the office, Gerard shares his passion for football and motorsport with his family and two children.
Grace Lavelle
Product Specialist, Macro strategies
Grace Lavelle
Product Specialist, Macro strategies
Since joining R&M in 2013, Grace has worked on delivering fiduciary management services to a wide range of clients. Her primary responsibility is investment solution design, ensuring the regular and detailed monitoring of client portfolios and underlying fund allocations as well as ongoing research into new investment products and strategies. Grace sits on R&M Solutions’ DC Management Committee, responsible for the composition of clients’ default strategies. Grace graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a First Class degree in Mathematics.
Graham Martin
Associate Director, UK Institutional
Graham Martin
Associate Director, UK Institutional
Graham is an Institutional Sales Director, developing and supporting institutional clients across Europe that invest in our equity, derivatives and alternatives strategies. Prior to joining R&M, Graham worked at Optima Fund Management for 11 years as Managing Director and Head of European & Middle Eastern Sales. Graham was at Gartmore for nine years, the last five of which as Hedge Fund Business Development Director on a small team selected to build a $6 billion hedge fund business. Graham has also held senior roles in investment management at BRI group and at Pointon York and is a non-executive director of Carvetian Capital Management. Graham is a UK Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals and holds a degree in Financial Services from Bournemouth University.
Hugh Sergeant
Head of Value & Recovery Strategies, PVT Equities
Hugh Sergeant
Head of Value & Recovery Strategies, PVT Equities
Hugh graduated from the London School of Economics with a degree in Economics. He joined Gartmore in 1987 as a UK equities graduate trainee and moved to Phillips & Drew in 1990, managing UK equities throughout his twelve years there. In March 2000 Hugh was promoted to Head of UK Equities at UBS Global Asset Management and Chairman of the UK Equities Committee. He joined Société Générale Asset Management in 2002 as Head of UK Equities. Hugh was one of the founding members of R&M Asset Management in 2006. Hugh is Head of Value and Recovery strategies within the PVT Equities team and manages the UK Equity High Alpha, UK Recovery, Global Recovery and Global High Alpha strategies.
James Barham
Group Chief Executive
James Barham
Group Chief Executive
James was appointed Group Chief Executive of River and Mercantile Group plc in July 2019. James founded River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP (RAMAM) in 2006 with the backing of Pacific Investments and was its Chief Executive Officer until the merger with P-Solve in 2014. Thereafter James became Global Head of Distribution before becoming Head of Asset Management in 2016 and subsequently Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer in 2018. Through this period, he retained his responsibilities for Group wide distribution. James completed his education at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and following service with the Royal Welch Fusiliers joined Shandwick Consultants in 1989. He subsequently joined James Capel in 1991. In 1995 James was part of the team that founded and successfully floated Liontrust Asset Management plc, where he established and managed the institutional business. James joined Intermediate Capital Group in 2004 as Sales and Marketing Director, leaving to establish the RAMAM business with the financial backing of Pacific Investments. Having founded RAMAM in 2006, James has served on the Board since the IPO of the Company and brings not only extensive experience and knowledge of the Group combined but significant asset management industry expertise and commerciality to his leadership of the Group.
James Sym
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
James Sym
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
James graduated from the University of Cambridge with a degree in Natural Sciences. James joined Cazenove Capital in 2007 as a graduate trainee in Wealth Management before moving to work on the Pan European desk in 2008, initially on the UK desk. In 2012 he launched the Cazenove European Income fund as co-manager and, following the Schroders acquisition of Cazenove in 2013, was appointed manager of a number of continental and pan European equity products ultimately managing over £2bn of client assets as well as forming the specialist European equity team at Schroders. He joined River and Mercantile in June 2020 and is a member of the PVT equity team with responsibility for the European franchise.
James Wall
Consultant Relations
James Wall
Consultant Relations
James has ten years of experience working with defined benefit pension schemes, and in helping them understand their options for long-term objectives and what journey plans make sense for them. Prior to joining R&M, James worked in the investment advisory team at KPMG where his work included helping pensions trustees select and evaluate their fiduciary manager. James is a qualified actuary, and holds a Masters degree in Mathematics from Oxford University.
Jason Wood
Director, UK Institutional
Jason Wood
Director, UK Institutional
Jason spent 23 years trading derivatives before joining River and Mercantile in 2014. Starting in the trading pits in London in 1991 he has worked for various investment banks including Bank of America and BNP as a Market Maker and a Proprietary trader. Since joining R&M Jason worked primarily with LGPS helping them understand how derivatives can be used to create a better outcome.
Joe Andrews
Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Joe Andrews
Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Since joining R&M Solutions in 2012, Joe has worked in the team responsible for delivering R&M Solutions fiduciary management service. Today Joe is a member of the Macro Committee, which is responsible for setting house views for all R&M Solutions clients. He also co-manages the Research & Development process at R&M Solutions, which is responsible for idea generation and ensuring the regular and detailed monitoring of macro themes, client portfolios and underlying fund allocations as well as on-going research into new investment products and strategies.
Joe Jepson
Associate Director, UK Institutional
Joe Jepson
Associate Director, UK Institutional
Joe Jepson is part of the UK Institutional team and is responsible for the investment consultant distribution channel. Joe joined R&M in 2017. Prior to this he worked as an investment consultant for a UK based consultancy and advised UK pension schemes. Joe is a CFA Charterholder and has a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of York.
John Misselbrook
Non-executive Director
John Misselbrook
Non-executive Director
John was appointed to the Board on 16 February 2018. John is the Chair of the Risk Committee and the Group Board Investment Committee. Additionally, he sits on the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. John has extensive financial services and non-executive experience. John has over 40 years’ experience in financial services and was the Chief Operating Officer of Baring Asset Management Limited for 11 years. John was formerly the Chairman of Aviva Investors. John holds a number of non-executive roles with major financial services institutions. John currently serves as the Chair of Hargreaves Lansdown Fund Managers Limited, Chair of JPMorgan China Growth and Income plc, and as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Remuneration Committees of Brown Shipley & Co. Limited. John brings significant financial services experience to the Board. He has in-depth expertise in organisational compliance, operations and risk. John’s valuable nonexecutive experience combined with his deep understanding of risk and insight into regulatory matters is crucial to his role as Chair of the Risk Committee. As the Group operates within a highly regulated environment, regulatory experience and understanding of risk management is vital to the sustainability of the long-term success of the Company.
Jonathan Dawson
Group Chairman
Jonathan Dawson
Group Chairman
Jonathan was appointed to the Board on 1 October 2017 as Chairman of the Company and is the Chair of the Nomination Committee. A graduate of the universities of St Andrews and Cambridge, Jonathan started his career in the Ministry of Defence before joining Lazard, the investment bank, where he spent over 20 years. He left Lazard in 2005 and co-founded Penfida Limited, the leading independent corporate finance advisor to pension fund trustees. Jonathan previously served as Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Next plc. Jonathan has also chaired three pension scheme boards of trustees. Other previous appointments include, Non-Executive Director of Galliford Try plc, National Australia Group Europe Limited and Standard Life Investments (Holdings) Limited. Most recently Jonathan served as Senior Independent Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. Jonathan currently serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of National Grid plc and is the Chairman of Penfida Limited. Jonathan has extensive financial services, pensions and non-executive experience. Jonathan is an experienced leader, having held senior board level positions in several high profile organisations. He previously held the position of Senior Independent Director of Next plc and Jardine Lloyd Thompson group plc. Jonathan brings an innovative perspective and independent oversight to the Board. Jonathan’s breadth of experience, understanding of diverse issues and strong corporate governance expertise allow him to lead an effective Board and are vital to the Company’s long-term sustainable success.
Marcus Honig
Sales Director, London & South East
Marcus Honig
Sales Director, London & South East
Marcus graduated from Glasgow University with an MA (Hons) degree in 2001. Throughout his career in financial services Marcus has worked for companies including Chase de Vere, Scottish Widows and Neptune Investment Management, before joining R&M in June 2017. Marcus holds the CII Level 4 Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning as well as the Certificate in Discretionary Investment Management. He is an experienced Sales and Distribution professional with strong client relationships across the UK.
Mark Davies
Managing Director, Derivatives
Mark Davies
Managing Director, Derivatives
Mark was one of the founding members of the derivatives team in 2006 and sits on the Derivatives Investment Committee. He is the lead Senior Quality Assurance Representative for the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries Quality Assurance Scheme accreditation that the derivatives team has. His primary role is working with prospects and new clients on the design of derivatives strategies. Mark is passionate about derivatives education and making derivatives accessible to all pension schemes, regardless of size. He started his career at HSBC in pensions consulting before moving to River and Mercantile in 2004. A Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, Mark has an MA and Meng in Engineering from the University of Cambridge.
Martin Canavan
Sales Director, North England, Scotland, Ireland & Isle of Man
Martin Canavan
Sales Director, North England, Scotland, Ireland & Isle of Man
Martin began his career in asset management sales in 1996 with Deutsche Bank. He has since held roles with AEGON Asset Management and Merian Global Investors (formerly Old Mutual), before joining R&M in August 2020. He is a highly experienced Sales professional with strong relationships across a range of client segments, covering the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland. Martin holds the Investment Management Certificate.
Martin Gilbert
Deputy Group Chairman
Martin Gilbert
Deputy Group Chairman
Martin Gilbert was appointed to the Board on 6 January 2021. Martin co-founded Aberdeen Asset Management in 1983, leading the company for 34 years and overseeing its 2017 merger with Standard Life. He is Chairman of Revolut Limited, Senior Independent Director at Glencore, Chairman of Toscafund and a Non-Executive Director of ASSETCO PLC and Saranac Partners. Until November 2019, he was Chairman of the UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority’s Practitioner Panel and was Deputy Chairman of the board of Sky PLC until 2018. Before this he was the Chairman of FirstGroup. In 2015, he was ranked no. 22 of the Harvard Business Review’s 900 top performing CEOs in the world. Martin holds an LLB from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in accountancy. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte.
Mike Faulkner
Group Chief Investment Officer
Mike Faulkner
Group Chief Investment Officer
Mike founded P-Solve in 2001 and served as its chief executive officer until the merger with River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP in 2014. Under his direction, P-Solve became one of the first institutional advisers in the UK to offer fiduciary management to pension schemes. Mike has 22 years of consulting and asset management experience. He was ranked number one in the Financial News category of Europe's most influential asset managers and included in the overall top 10 in its FN 100 Most Influential annual survey in 2011. Mike is a Mathematics graduate from Imperial College, London.
Miriam Greenwood
Non-executive Director
Miriam Greenwood
Non-executive Director
Miriam was appointed to the Board on 28 May 2019. Miriam is Chair of the Company’s Remuneration Committee and additionally sits on the Audit, Group Board Investment, Nomination and Risk Committees. With qualifications as a barrister and in corporate finance, Miriam has spent more than 30 years working for a number of leading investment banks and other financial institutions. A Deputy Lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh, Miriam was awarded an OBE for services to corporate finance in 2000. In previous roles Miriam served as a Non-Executive Director of the UK energy regulator OFGEM, Henderson Global Trust plc, Mithras Investment Trust plc and Telit Communications plc. Miriam was also a founding partner in SPARK Advisory Partners, an independent corporate advisory business. Miriam currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Smart Metering Systems plc, as Non-Executive Director of Eclipse Shipping Limited and of Gulf International Bank (UK) Limited. She is an advisor to Ofgem and the Mayor of London’s Energy Efficiency Fund. Miriam, through her broad range of expertise and experience within the financial services sector, brings significant in-depth understanding of remuneration and financial matters to her role as Chair of the Remuneration Committee. Miriam has relevant and recent experience as a remuneration committee chair, having chaired the Remuneration Committee of Smart Metering Systems plc, where she also served as Senior Independent Director prior to her appointment as Chair of their Board. Miriam has garnered further remuneration committee experience serving on the remuneration Committees of Telit Communications plc and Henderson Global Trust plc. As a Non-Executive Director, Miriam brings scrutiny, constructive challenge and independent oversight to the Board.
Nick Pearse
Sales Director, Midlands, South West & Channel Islands
Nick Pearse
Sales Director, Midlands, South West & Channel Islands
Nick joined R&M in January 2021 from Jupiter, which acquired Merian Global Investors in 2020, where Nick worked for the past decade.
Patrick O’Brien
Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Patrick O’Brien
Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Patrick chairs the R&M Solutions' Multi-Asset Committee, which makes the asset allocation, manager and fund selection decisions within our fiduciary clients’ growth portfolios. He also sits on our Macro and Global Investment Committees which together determine our house views on market conditions, asset classes and overall risk appetite that are central to the decisions that the Multi-Asset Committee make. He is therefore involved at all stages of our investment process, playing a key role in the formation and evolution of our investment decisions from month-to-month, and closely monitoring markets and economic indicators day-to-day. Patrick has ultimate responsibility from an investment perspective for the day-to-day running of our fiduciary management service – with macro and manager research and portfolio management teams reporting in to him. Patrick began his career at Legal & General before joining R&M in 2008. He holds a BSc in Finance from University College Cork.
Ravi Cheema, CFA
Deputy Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Ravi Cheema, CFA
Deputy Portfolio Manager, Macro strategies
Ravi is a senior member of the macro team, responsible for managing multi-asset fiduciary portfolios. As a deputy portfolio manager, he covers all aspects of day-to-day fiduciary management, including portfolio construction, manager research, risk monitoring and derivatives management. A member of the macro committee, Ravi is responsible for helping guide the firm's macro-economic and top-down asset allocation views. Given his background in economics, finance, and history, he often looks to add a more judgemental overlay to our quantitative research. He also has a background in designing and building bespoke strategies to meet fiduciary clients' needs, ranging from public equities, credit, and derivatives mandates, to cash flow matching and private asset solutions. Ravi previously held roles at HSBC and KPMG before joining R&M in 2012. He graduated from the London School of Economics with a First Class Honors degree in Economics.
Roger Lewis
Group Head of ESG
Roger Lewis
Group Head of ESG
Roger provides expertise and problem solving around Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) matters at R&M. Areas of focus are designing and implementing strategy, integrating ESG to investment decisions and ongoing asset management, defining solutions for clients and engagement for ESG. Roger previously worked at Aviva Investors, where responsibilities included aligning ESG strategy and factors with investment functions across its £47.3bn Real Assets platform, which invests in property, infrastructure and private debt. Prior to this, Roger held roles at Legal & General Investment Management and J.P. Morgan. Roger has completed the UN Principles of Responsible Investment programme, holds the CFA UK Diploma in Investment Management (ESG) and has passed Level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst programme. Roger is also a passionate advocate for limiting climate change to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Ronan O’Riordan
Business Development
Ronan O’Riordan
Business Development
Ronan is responsible for business development of Solutions. He started his career at ABN Amro Asset Management in Amsterdam which was one of the first providers of Fiduciary Management in Europe. He subsequently worked at BNP Paribas and Russell Investments. Ronan is responsible for setting and implementing our marketing and distribution strategy. He holds an MA in Globalisation from Dublin City University.
Ross Leach
Co-Head of Solutions
Ross Leach
Co-Head of Solutions
Ross works with DB pension schemes ranging in size from £50m to £5bn. He is also a member of our Investment Strategy Committee, responsible for developing our house approach to strategic advice for DB clients. He is a qualified actuary and holds a degree in Mathematics from the University of Warwick.
Ross Nicholson, FIA
Co-Head of Clients, Solutions
Ross Nicholson, FIA
Co-Head of Clients, Solutions
Ross has responsibility for the delivery of services to our Solutions' clients, ensuring appropriate investment strategies are in place, client teams are suitably resourced and high levels of client satisfaction are maintained. Ross is also a member of the Investment Strategy Committee which leads thinking on the investment strategy ideas to be brought out to all clients. Ross is the lead investment advisor to a broad range of fiduciary and advisory clients, developing and implementing investment strategies tailored to their specific circumstances. He has been working with clients since joining the business in 2006, many of whom he has over 10 year relationships with. Ross has experience of bringing clients from underfunded positions all the way to buy-out, providing strong strategic advice along the way. He has worked collaboratively with actuarial and covenant advisors from most of the firms in the industry to achieve best outcomes for clients in their journey. Outside of the office, Ross likes to play golf at the weekends and is a passionate supporter of Irish and Munster rugby.
Simon Smith
Head of Wholesale Distribution
Simon Smith
Head of Wholesale Distribution
Simon Smith is Managing Director, and Head of UK Wholesale Distribution, responsible for creating a market leading customer centric distribution business working with wealth managers across the UK for the benefit of investors. Simon has spent a 25 year career working for some of the industry's leading asset managers including M&G, Standard Life Investments and most recently nine years overseeing the growth of Merian UK Wholesale (Old Mutual Global Investors).
Simon Wilson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Simon Wilson
Group Chief Financial Officer
Simon was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer on 19 May 2020. Simon is a Chartered Accountant and has over 20 years’ experience in asset management and the financial services sector gained in senior financial roles. Prior to joining, Simon spent five years as Group Finance Director for the Topland Group, one of the UK’s largest privately owned investment groups which focuses on real estate, hotels, healthcare and the provision of equity and debt finance. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Deloitte in its financial services assurance department in London and moved to Hawkpoint, the M&A advisory business, where he advised on public and private transactions, capital raises and IPOs in the financial services and mid-market sectors. From Hawkpoint he joined the financial services investment group, Pacific Investments, where he spent twelve years, latterly as Managing Director of Corporate Finance and Chief Operating Officer of fund management. While at Pacific Investments, Simon represented Pacific’s interests in River and Mercantile Asset Management LLP from its formation in 2006 until its merger in 2014 prior to the IPO of the Company. Simon has significant financial experience, having held a number of senior financial roles. This, combined with his asset management experience and previous knowledge of the Group’s asset management business, allows him to bring in-depth expertise on a broad range of relevant areas to the Board. His appointment completes the Group’s refreshed senior management team which is integral to the delivery of the Group Chief Executive’s strategy. Simon’s contribution to the Board and senior management team is key to the long-term sustainable success of the Company.
Sudin Poddar
Portfolio Manager, ILC Equities
Sudin Poddar
Portfolio Manager, ILC Equities
Sudin Poddar, CFA is a Portfolio Manager and Analyst on the Industrial Life Cycle (ILC) Equity team. Prior to joining River and Mercantile Group in June of 2017, Mr. Poddar spent ten years at Credit Suisse helping build and grow a core equities business centered on the Industrial Life Cycle framework. Primary amongst his responsibilities was to manage a Global All Country Small Cap strategy which was incepted in January of 2014. Mr. Poddar holds an MBA in Financial Analysis and a BS in Business with a Major in Finance from Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Tamsin Evans
Head of Investments
Tamsin Evans
Head of Investments
Tamsin is responsible for the RMG suite of multi asset products. She chairs the Global Investment Committee, the group responsible for macroeconomic research and asset allocation decisions and is integral in the implementation of those views within specific product constraints. She is an experienced manager researcher and has a particular interest in risk management. Tamsin began her career as a management consultant at Accenture and previously worked at Watson Wyatt, now Willis Towers Watson specialising in asset liability modelling and executive reward. Tamsin graduated from the University of Manchester with a BSc in Mathematics. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries.
Tom Cassara
Head of R&M USA
Tom Cassara
Head of R&M USA
Tom Cassara is a Managing Director in R&M’s New York office and Head of the US business. In his role he consults with institutional clients across the investment and actuarial spectrum. This includes defined benefit, defined contribution, not for profit and retiree medical. Tom works with clients to bring his 30 years of experience across a wide range of institutional organizations to provide custom solutions. Prior to joining R&M, Tom was a Senior Partner with Mercer leading their US East Wealth business in addition to providing strategic investment and actuarial advice to clients. He has consulted to organisations with less than $100M in assets to greater than $5B in assets. Included in his experience is working with corporate, not for profit, church, healthcare and endowments and foundations. Tom is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, an Enrolled Actuary, a CFA charterholder and has a Series 3 license. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Wake Forest University.
Tom De Lisle
Sales Director, London
Tom De Lisle
Sales Director, London
Tom is Sales Director for London within the Wholesale Distribution team. He looks after a wide range of clients including Discretionary Wealth Managers, Multi Managers, Family Offices, Private Banks and Global Financial Institutions. Tom joined R&M in February 2013. He started his career in financial services in 2004 at a London stockbroking firm advising high net worth individuals on US stocks and helped launch the alternative investments division. He then moved to Neptune Investment Management in 2007 as Sales Manager covering the London and Greater London area and also became Head of Family Office Business Development. Tom has a degree in Modern and Medieval French from the University of Oxford, he holds the IMC certificate and is a member of the CFA UK Society.
William Lough
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
William Lough
Portfolio Manager, PVT Equities
Will graduated from the University of Oxford with a First-Class Honours Degree in Modern History, before joining R&M as an equity analyst in 2009. In 2013 he was promoted to Director of Research and in 2014 became alternate Portfolio Manager on Hugh Sergeant’s Recovery and High Alpha strategies. Will is currently the lead Portfolio Manager on the UK Dynamic Equity and International High Alpha Strategies and co-manager on the Global High Alpha Strategy. Will is also the alternate on the UK Recovery Strategy.
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