Standard Life, Aberdeen Bolster IM Committee Ahead Of Merger

Robbie Lawther

22 June 2017

Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management have appointed new members to the investment management committee of the future joint business, as the merger is close to completion.

The merger remains on track to be completed in third financial quarter of 2017 with a target date of 14 August 2017, subject to certain regulatory approvals, the firms said in a statement.

The new IMC will comprise global functional heads responsible for asset classes and key enabling functions. In particular it will:

-   Provide a strong and unified approach to our combined investment management activities
-   Oversee investment process, performance, capabilities and investment talent
-    Define and set investment culture, and the investment governance and risk framework across the business.

The global heads will oversee and support a number of different investment processes within the firms’ operations. They will be supported by business management structures both within their own franchises and across the firm as a whole.

Rod Paris, chief investment officer for the combined group, will chair the IMC, which will be made up of the following people from both businesses, subject to the completion of the merger:

-   Brian Fleming - global head of structured solutions
-   Devan Kaloo – global head of equities
-   Craig MacDonald – global head of fixed income
-   Andrew McCaffery – global head of client-driven and multi-manager solutions
-   Peter McKellar – global head of private and infrastructure equity
-   David Paine – global co-head of real estate
-   Sean Phayre – global head of quantitative investing
-   Mandy Pike – global head of investment execution
-   Guy Stern – global head of multi-asset and macro investing
-   Archie Struthers – global head of investment governance and oversight
-   Pertti Vanhanen – global co-head of real estate

Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert, Co-CEOs of the combined business will have standing invitations to IMC meetings to maintain connectivity with the firm’s investment activities. In addition, regular attendees will be: Alan Coutts , Ginny Richardson and Euan Stirling .

“To create a world-class investment company, the investment team must be at the heart of our business,” said Paris. “The combined investment management committee will play a vital role in achieving this. The combined businesses have strong, complementary investment capabilities which will deliver greater investment insight and more choice for clients and customers. Together we will be broader and more diverse, respecting different investment philosophies and processes, incorporating the best talent and capabilities from both firms. By combining our capabilities across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and solutions, real estate, private markets and hedge funds, we are creating a world-class investment company, with over 1,000 investment professionals and a truly global perspective."