Franks (pictured) brings over 25 years’ experience in talent management, strategic HR and organisational development to Stonehage Fleming from Sotheby’s where she was senior vice president HR for Europe.

Prior to this, she spent 10 years at Barclays Private Bank, most recently as head of HR private bank & overseas services, where she oversaw the segmentation of Barclays Wealth into two separate entities. She also spent four years as HR director of Schroders Asset Management.

She will join as partner and form part of Stonehage Fleming’s Senior Leadership Team. She will work closely with the business heads to develop and execute the group HR strategy, and drive talent development and retention, diversity and engagement across the business. Her role will be based in London and is effective immediately.

Ian Crosby, head of group risk and chairman of Stonehage Fleming Jersey, said: “We welcome Jayne to Stonehage Fleming. Her experience leading the HR functions of private banking and asset management businesses serving global clientele across multiple jurisdictions will help us attract and develop the best talent and structure our internal operations so that our team continues to provide exceptional service to clients.”

Franks added: “Stonehage Fleming is a global leader in wealth management, with a client-centric approach and and people at the heart of the business. I look forward to working with my new colleagues across the Group.”

Naidu, pictured below left,  joins from Melville Douglas Investment Management, where she was a senior global equity analyst and co-fund manager. In total, she has well over 10 years’ investment industry experience.

Based in London, Naidu, who has particular expertise in consumer and industrial sectors, amongst other sectors, will report into Head of Global Equity Management Gerrit Smit, the company said

Stonehage Fleming Equity Management is a growth equity boutique and sits within the wider Stonehage Fleming Investment Management business based in London. Its flagship strategy, the Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity Fund, was launched in August 2013 by Gerrit Smit. It currently has around £2.1bn of assets, with a further £1.7bn managed under the same model in segregated accounts.

Gerrit Smit commented: “Pran has significant experience at a senior level working on global equity mandates very similar to our own and will be able to hit the ground running as part of the team supporting the Global Best Ideas Equity Fund.

“Pran has demonstrated throughout her career her ability to add value through high quality company and industry research and we are pleased to welcome her into the GBI team.”

Naidu added: “The Global Best Ideas Equity Fund has a stellar track record stretching back more than 10 years and it is exciting to consider the investment opportunities that lie ahead given generationally powerful themes within areas such as artificial intelligence and healthcare. I am delighted to contribute to a strategy seeking to invest in the very best companies around the world and look forward to working with such a talented and experienced team.”

His role as chief executive will be assumed by executive chairman and former chief executive Giuseppe Ciucci until a long-term replacement is identified.

Merry has been in the chief executive role since 2019.

Ciucci said: “I’m looking forward to working with our strong and established leadership team to continue building on our organic growth and bedding down our recent acquisitions.

“I would like to thank Chris for his contribution to the Group during his tenure and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

This news comes six months after Stonehage Fleming bought the business and assets of South Africa-based investment firm Rootstock Investment Management for an undisclosed sum.

The bank has announced that chief executive Peter Flavel will step down with immediate effect, following his role in the handling of Nigel Farage’s case.

Mohammad Kamal Syed will step into the role as interim chief executive of Coutts and the wealth businesses, subject to approvals.

Strabens Hall

The wealth manager has promoted Alex Stephens to chief operating officer.

Stephens has been with Strabens Hall for 9 months and was previously head of operations.

Prior to that he worked at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Natixis Investment Managers

The investment manager has promoted Patrick Sobotta to regional head of Germany, Austria and Central and Eastern Europe and executive managing director.

He will be responsible for the retail, wholesale and institutional activities within those regions. Sobotta will report to Fabrice Chemouny, executive vice president and head of international sales.

Elsewhere, Erik Crawford will join as senior sales director in August.

The firm has also promoted Constance Clerc as head of business enhancement based in Paris.

Clerc joined Natixis in 2016 and was previously head of strategy and sales management for international distribution.

The Exit Partnership

The wealth manager has hired Dave Robinson as head of internal exits.

He will spearhead guidance and advice to retiring IFAs considering a management buy out (MBO) or employee ownership trust (EOT).

BlackRock

The investment manager has appointed Mandy Lui as head of greater China wealth and Dennis Quah as head of Singapore wealth.

Lui will join in mid-August in Hong Kong and will focus on developing relationships with distributors in the greater China refioin.

She joins from Baring Asset Management where she was head of wealth and retail distribution for greater China and southeast Asia.

Quah has joined this month and will focus on building relationships with consumer banks, private banks and insurers.

He has previously worked at Columbia Threadneedle and Schroders.

Schroders

The asset manager has made several changes across its Asia Pacific team.

The current Apac head of client group, Szu Yi Chin will become head of wealth for Apac.

While, Katherine Cox who has been the firm’s Apac head of strategic clients, product and private banks, has now been appointed as its global head of long-term asset owners.

In another move, Lily Choh, the firm’s chief executive for Singapore, has had a broadening of her role to oversee Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and India as head of south Asia.

Similarly, the firm’s Hong Kong chief executive and Apac head of strategy, Gopi Mirchandani, has been named head of north Asia. Her area of focus will now include Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea and Japan. She will also retain her role as head of strategy for Apac.

Chris Durack, who is currently head of Apac, as well as Karine Szenberg, head of Europe and global head of product and marketing, have been appointed co-heads of Schroders’ client group.

Stonehage Fleming

The family office has made a series of promotions across the London office.

In the family office division Jack Henderson and Anna Wetherell have been promoted to associate director while Francesca Maule and Eleanor Sowerbutts to manager and Edward Durgan to senior associate.

Within investment management, James Cook has been promoted to director, Mark Leshnick, Archie Burt and Miki Caves to associate director, and Ross Elliott to manager.

Robyn Bramwell has been promoted to director in corporate, legal and tax advisory.

In group services, Peter Rogerson has been promoted to director, Hannah Berry to associate director, with Claire Main and Oliver Taylor promoted to senior associate.

JM Finn

The wealth manager has promoted Todd Babington to head of operations following the retirement of Frank Reardon.

Babington has been with the firm for five years , he has previously worked at Arbuthnot Latham and HSBC Private Bank.

JTC

The wealth manager has appointed Helena Storjohann as director in its Geneva office, where she will be responsible for a portfolio of clients and trusts

Prior to JTC, Storjohann was at Julius Baer, where she was a wealth planner.

DFSA

The Dubai Financial Services Authority announced that Swee Lian Tee will be stepping down from its board of directors on 31 August.

Teo has served on the board for six years as the chair of the board’s risk committee and as a member of the governance and nominations committee and Emirati working group.

Fiera Capital

The asset manager has appointed Mandy Adamou as managing director, head of consultant relations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Adamou will chair the firms Global Consultant Committee and will report to Klaus Schuster.

Prior to this role, she was managing director, global head of consultant relations at a global asset manager in London.

Close Brothers

The asset manager has hired Nic Heath as senior investment director.

He will provide bespoke investment management services for private clients, trusts, charities and pension schemes.

Heath has previously worked at Barclays Wealth and Investec W&I.

Rathbones

The investment manager has appointed Lynsey Carson as business development director.

She will be responsible for enhancing Rathbones’ partnership with adviser businesses across Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Carson joins from LGT Wealth Management where she was business development director and has also held senior positions at Coutts, RBS and NatWest.

Aviva Investors

The global asset manager has appointed Viktor Dietrich as research director and Rebecca Crocker as research analyst.

Both will report to David Hedalen, head of real assets research as part of a seven person team.

Dietrich was previously at Patrizia where we worked as an equity analyst while Crocker joins from American Express as a senior financially analyst.

Ozlem Gunduz Robinson has been named as head of the international private bank at the group, according to her Linkedin profile.

Robinson was previously global head of wealth for capital markets, credit and advisory at HSBC Global Private Banking.

Brooks Macdonald

The wealth manager has appointed Louis Petherick as group chief risk officer with effect from 4 September, subject to regulatory approval.

He joins Brooks Macdonald from FNZ UK, where he is chief risk officer.

Quilter Cheviot

The DFM arm of Quilter has bolstered its business development teams across the UK.

Adam Davey has joined Quilter Cheviot’s Glasgow office from Royal London, where he was a business development manager.

Ruth Lynch joins the Leicester office from sister company Quilter Financial Planning, having been a relationship manager in the west of the UK.

Meanwhile, Emily Murphy joined the London office from Abrdn in July. Murphy was an associate director of business development and has worked closely supporting national advice firms, advice networks, banks and building societies.

Finally, John Long has joined from the IFA compliance and business support consultancy Threesixty services, where he was head of strategic accounts.

All four will report into David Butler, head of distribution at Quilter Cheviot.

Stonehage Fleming

The international family office has made a series of promotions across its Jersey and Isle of Man offices.

In the Jersey family office division, Bev Stewart has been promoted to Partner. She joined the group as a director in 2020 from Absa Bank Limited in South Africa.

Also, in the Jersey family office division Leigh Driscoll and Monika Osiak Faria have been promoted to associate director, and Larni Sobere to senior associate.

In the Jersey group corporate, legal and tax advisory division, Leanne Stuart has been promoted to associate director.

In the Isle of Man family office division Samantha Andrews, Keri Breadner and Tessa Burrows have been promoted to associate director.

Aon

The global professional services firm has named Maria Johannessen as UK head of investment.

Johannessen was previously investment client leader and investment leader for the London region, having joined Aon as a senior partner in June 2022.

She succeeds Tim Giles, who has left Aon after 25 years to seek new challenges and opportunities.

Rockhold Asset Management

The investment management business owned by Adviser Services Holdings (ASHL) has named James Millard as a non-executive director.

Millard was most recently chief investment officer of Hiscox Group

Prior to Hiscox, he was co-head of multi-manager solutions at Aberdeen Standard.