Kitchen has headed up the firm’s global equities division since 2011. He initially joined Henderson in 2005 as head of UK equities after a three-year stint at Threadneedle. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at Invesco Asset Management as a UK fund manager and co-head of investments.
He is the latest individual to depart the fund house since the merger of Henderson Group and US manager Janus Capital was confirmed last year.
The firm has appointed George Maris and Alex Crooke to replace Kitchen as co-heads. They will report to Enrique Chang, global chief investment officer.
Kitchen has said he will remain with the firm until March 2018 to ensure a smooth transition.
In their new roles, Maris will be responsible for leading US equities and Crooke for equities in the EMEA & APAC regions. They will join the Janus Henderson Executive Committee on a rotating basis every six months, and they will remain lead portfolio manager on their respective funds.
Chang commented: “Promoting these two individuals from within the organisation is a testament to the firm’s strong investment talent and deep bench strength.
“Respectively, George and Alex bring more than 19 and 27 years of financial industry experience. We are highly confident that their long tenure and significant accomplishments will ensure a smooth transition and that they will have a positive impact on the broader Janus Henderson organisation in these expanded leadership roles.
“We want to thank Graham for his significant contributions to the firm, particularly for building such a strong equities team. We wish him much success in his future endeavours,” he added.
Meanwhile, Julian McManus and Garth Yettick, US research analysts and assistant portfolio managers, will be promoted to assist Maris as co-portfolio managers on the overseas and global select strategies, effective 1 January 2018.
Ben Lofthouse is currently co-portfolio manager on the existing strategies managed by Crooke and will continue on in that role, while taking day-to-day management responsibility for the team.
