GenSpring Family Offices, the Florida-headquartered firm which serves ultra high net worth clients, has appointed Jean Brunel as chief investment officer of its Investment Advisory Center.

Earlier this year Brunel was named chairman of the firm’s strategic investment advisory committee, having been a member of it for 12 years.

As part of his new role he joins GenSpring’s operating committee and will work with the firm’s head of investments John Elmes to synthesize and communicate its investment views. He will do this via regular communications with family investment officers, the family offices, and client families. He replaces Andrew Mehalko in this position.

Brunel was latterly a managing principal of Brunel Associates, and prior to that spent the majority of his career in the investment management group of JP Morgan.

GenSpring works with around 700 client-families based in 17 countries.