The latest moves and appointments for wealth management roles in the UK, other parts of Europe, the Middle East and select international locations.

Close Brothers Asset Management
Close Brothers Asset Management has appointed two managing directors, David Mellett and Ben Staniforth, to strengthen its team across the North, Midlands and South West of England.

Joining the firm with over 25 years of experience in financial services, Mellett will be based in the North of England, focusing on CBAM’s growth ambitions across the region. He will play a key role in growing the company’s presence in the North West, improving its capabilities for HNW clients, the firm said. He joins from Santander Private Bank, where he was regional director across the North for nearly seven years.

Meanwhile, Staniforth, who will split his time across the Midlands and South West, will be responsible for growing CBAM’s HNW advice capabilities across those areas, managing both regional teams, the firm added. Also with more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Staniforth is joining from Chase de Vere, where he managed a team of financial planners.

Welcoming the appointments, John Edmeads, head of advice at Close Brothers Asset Management, said: “Both have incredibly successful careers across the advice industry and have built up a wide pool of contacts and clients.”

Edison Group
Edison Group, an international equity research and investor relations consultancy, has appointed James d’Ath as its new director of ESG, reflecting the company’s continued expansion. 

D’Ath brings experience drawn from nearly three decades in investments and international equity markets, working across a variety of roles notably at Barclays Wealth, ING and ICAP, the firm said. More recently, he was head of product management at AJ Bell Investments, where he specialised in asset management, research, and new product development. 

Since 2019, d’Ath’s focus has been on green finance and impact investing. He was commissioned in January 2021 by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI) to review the Natural Capital Finance Alliance Advancing Environmental Risk Management project, an initiative to explore natural capital impacts and dependencies, the firm said.

In his new position at Edison, he will play a key role in driving the firm’s ESG solutions for clients, capitalising on his previous experience and expertise, the firm added. He will be the group lead, point of reference and contact for all matters relating to ESG and will be responsible for overseeing all business and product development, product strategy, and communications related to ESG products.  

FCM
Jersey-based privately owned and managed trust company FCM has expanded its team with the appointment of three new recruits.

Samantha Flambard, who has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, is joining the company as director of client services. She brings extensive knowledge of cross-border facilitation and working on structures created for high net worth individuals, family offices, corporations and managed trust companies, the firm added. In her new role, she will lead the client services team.

Urszula Polanska has been appointed as assistant trust manager, with responsibility for her own portfolio of clients. 

Nienke Bouic, who is joining the firm as a compliance assistant, brings 14 years’ experience after working for the Apex Group, assisting various client teams with tax-focused projects. the firm said.

With their combined level of expertise and varied skill sets, the company is now in a good position to meet its strategic growth objectives and deliver the best possible outcomes for its clients, the firm stressed.

Welcoming them to the company, John Wood, managing director of FCM said: “With their combined level of expertise and varied skillsets, the company is in a fantastic position to meet its strategic growth objectives and deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients.’’