Schroders restructures: Promotes key people

Schroders has made several new appointments and restructured its investment teams as it prepares to further leverage the global brand.

Simon Doyle has been promoted to the newly created role of chief investment officer, Australia, although he will continue to run the multi-asset portfolio.

In the expanded role, he will focus on the opportunities to deliver investment solutions for Australian clients.

He will report jointly to Schroders Australia chief executive Sam Hallinan and UK-based group chief investment officer and co-head of investments, Johanna Kyrklund.

He will work alongside Natalie Morcos has been promoted to head of product and solutions. Previously, she was head of product.

Hallinan said the promotions underline Schroders' focus on finding investment-driven solutions for its Australian clients.

"In the new structure, I will work closely with Simon and Natalie to identify solutions that meet clients' evolving needs over the coming years," Hallinan said.

"This will also include leveraging Simon's extensive multi-asset and solution-oriented experience to drive our response to the changing regulatory and market landscape.

He said Morcos will bring her extensive industry experience - gained over a 20-year career working with Mercer Investments, Russell Investments, MLC, and others - to bear.

Meantime, Schroders has made several other promotions.

Kellie Wood has been promoted to deputy head of fixed income, Australia, and will report to Stuart Dear the head of fixed income for Australia.

Sebastian Mullins has been named deputy head of multi-asset, Australia, reporting to Doyle.

"Kellie's promotion reflects her skills and experience as a fixed income investor and her significant contribution to the leadership and growth of the team over many years," said Doyle.

"As deputy head, Kellie will continue to work with Stuart in building our fixed income capability and in representing our fixed Income offering to key stakeholders."

Commenting on Mullins' appointment, the investment head acknowledged his experience and contribution to the investment team and clients since joining Schroders in 2019.

"As deputy head, Sebastian will take on increased responsibility for day-to-day investment and team leadership as well as in representing our multi-asset capability in the market," Doyle added.

He confirmed that the appointments will ensure that teams and structures evolve to best leverage Schroders' extensive global capabilities for clients in a challenging environment.

Coinciding with the appointments, Schroders has acquired River and Mercantile, a UK-based leader in outsourcing CIO solutions in the UK defined benefit pension market. Schroders plans to leverage this expertise in the Australian market to help meet client needs.

"Designing and implementing investment solutions to respond to client problems is at the heart of what it is to be an asset manager, and this will continue to be a core focus of how Schroders positions itself and meets client needs," Hallinan concluded.