The fund manager, who has headed up the funds since 2008, was praised for his inspiring leadership, and the team-based and research-orientated investment process. He has recently been appointed as chief investment officer for the EMEA and Asian regions.
Paul Read and Paul Causer won the equivalent European fixed income gong for their Invesco Euro Corporate Bond Fund.
Chris Traulsen, Morningstar’s director of fund research for Europe, said: “Against the broad swathe of consensus thinking in the teeth of the financial crisis, the managers held their nerve by maintaining exposure to financial bonds in particular and defying conventional thinking by increasing their exposure. As always they have done this because they are fine stewards of capital who are willing and able to defy the crowd.”
Rajiv Jain, who manages the Vontobel Emerging Markets Equity and Global Value funds, was awarded Global equity fund manager of the year by the ratings agency. He was commended for his prudent approach and ability to limit risk during market downturns.