Frontier appoints equities lead

James Gunn
JAMES GUNN
Frontier Advisors Pty Ltd - Head of Equities Research
APPOINTMENT
Frontier Advisors Pty Ltd
FRONTIER ADVISORS PTY LTD
Date: 30 November 2022
Position: Head of Equities Research
By Elizabeth Fry

Frontier has appointed a new head of head of equities promoting from within.

James Gunn, who joined Frontier four years ago, will replace Fraser Murray who retires at the end of the year.

Since joining Frontier, Gunn has been a senior figure within the asset consultant's equity research practice, both domestically and globally.

Frontier has a highly active research program with its highest concentration of managers in the equities sector, reflective of client interests.

The asset consultant's equities team meets around 400 managers annually and has 1,200 products on their database.

Before joining Frontier, Gunn, who has 20 years of equity markets experience, worked as a buy-side analyst and in senior manager research roles with Standard and Poors and Aviva.

Murray - who has led Frontier's equities team for a decade - flagged his retirement intentions some months ago, allowing for a smooth transition.

Frontier chief executive Andrew Polson acknowledged Murray's contribution. "Fraser has been a wonderful member of our team and delivered outstanding analysis, insight and value for our clients.

Having reached the ten-year mark at Frontier, and having already moved to three days working a week over the last couple of years, Fraser decided now is the right time for him to step down from the role.

"We're sorry to see him go, but we are grateful for his contribution, the legacy he will leave in the way our research program operates across all sectors, and the way he has transparently worked with us," said Polson.

Commenting on Gunn's promotion, Polson said the equities team is well placed under his stewardship to build on the fundamentals Fraser has instilled and take the research program forward.

The Frontier chief also noted that Gunn completed more manager meetings than any other person at Frontier over the last year.

In his four years at Frontier, Gunn has personally met with well over 300 different funds management firms.

"He is looking forward to the opportunity to build on his years of manager due diligence experience with a greater strategic and client focus."

Added Gunn: "It's been a privilege to work with Fraser over the last few years. We've developed a terrific team and have a really interesting and growing client base."

Frontier has been building and positioning its equities team positively over recent years with the addition of Gunn, followed by other senior researchers in Adrian Hoe in 2019 and Simone Gavin in 2020.

With Gunn's promotion, the asset consultant is looking to add to the team.