Fiduciary Trust has hired former U.S. Trust advisor Kimbrough Towles as an investment consultant in New York. She reports to the firm's wealth management head Gail Cohen.

Also joining Fiduciary Trust's investment team from U.S. Trust is Debra Feeks, who steps into the role of relationship manager.

"The demand for full-service wealth management capabilities continues to grow in the current market environment as investors look for trusted partners with demonstrated expertise in safekeeping and growing client assets," says Fiduciary Trust's president and co-chief executive Henry Johnson. "Kimbrough and Debbie have distinguished themselves as trusted consultants to wealthy individuals and families, and we're delighted to have them join our organization to work with our clients and their advisors."

Johnson will become Fiduciary Trust's president and sole CEO on 1 October 2009 when the firm's chairman and co-CEO James Goodfellow gives up his day-to-day management responsibilities with the firm.

Towles was senior senior portfolio manager with Bank of America's U.S. Trust unit, where she managed wealthy individual, families and foundations. Feeks comes to Fiduciary Trust with more than 30 years of experience in financial service.

Fiduciary Trust, a subsidiary of San Mateo, Calif.-based asset manager Franklin Templeton, has offices in New York, San Mateo, Calif., Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Del., Miami, London, Hong Kong and Grand Cayman. Franklin Templeton had $448.7 billion in assets under management at the end of May 2009.