M&G Wealth has appointed Shanti Kelemen to become its first chief investment officer a year after launch.
Kelemen joins from Brown Shipley where she was investment director, responsible for communicating investment views, improving investment processes and integrating acquired businesses. She was hired in October 2019 as CIO Toby Vaughan sought to grow the investment team.
Previously, she spent seven years at Coutts, starting out as a business development and product manager before becoming a director on the investment management team. There she managed multi-asset advisory and discretionary portfolios. She started her career in equity derivative sales at the Royal Bank of Scotland.
In a press release announcing her appointment, Kelemen highlighted the importance of sustainable investment.
“We are living in a time of incredible change and uncertainty – but also opportunity. Providing the right investment solutions and experiences to our customers in a robust and planet-friendly way has never been more important,” she said.
“Companies that want to be a trusted partner for investment solutions need to be innovative, financially capable, and completely focused on their customers.
M&G Wealth managing director David Montgomery said the firm’s launch in September 2020, after the acquisition of Ascentric, aimed to address the escalating advice gap in the UK.
“Integral to doing this are the right people, investment solutions and capabilities to make a real difference to our customers and their ultimate wealth outcomes.
“The appointment of Shanti is another important investment in our wealth business in line with M&G plc’s sustainable growth strategy.”
In May, the firm announced it was launching a hybrid advice business catering to savers with smaller pots. The firm has three main parts: M&G Wealth Advice, M&G Wealth Platform and a retail investment funds business, M&G Direct.
