Bell who is currently AIC deputy chairman, is chief executive of Witan Investment Trust and a non-executive director of Henderson High Income Trust. He previously held roles at Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management, BZW and Credit Suisse First Boston.

“The investment company industry has had a challenging yet hugely interesting few years, with pressures from a number of quarters for changes in financial services governance and regulation. The AIC’s executive team and board have a crucial role in helping to shape the regulatory debate, as well as providing advice and guidance to members on the implementation of any resulting changes in the rules,” said Bell.

The AIC recently called for greater clarity on how listed investment trusts disclose their levels of debt gearing, in advance of next year’s regulatory reforms. It suggested that investment companies publish a primary, consistently calculated measure of gearing, expressed as a simple percentage.

The AIC represents closed ended investment companies. Its 343 members are traded on the London Stock Exchange, AIM, SFM, Euronext and the Channel Islands Stock Exchange.