Asset management boutique Amati Global Investors has recruited Graeme Bencke (pictured) as a fund manager on its new global equity strategy. He will work alongside former Aviva Investor global equities boss Mikhail Zverev, who joined the firm in January.
Zverev was brought on board to launch a global equities strategy, which is a notable shift from the £1.2bn boutique’s traditional focus on UK small and mid-cap companies. Working alongside Zverev is analyst Dr Gareth Blades, who joined Amati in 2019.
Bencke has over 25 years’ experience and started his career as an equity portfolio manager with F&C Asset Management – now BMO Asset Management – in 1997. He moved to Pinebridge Asset Management – previously AIG Investments – in 2005.
Since 2017, he has had stints at Gresham House and, subsequently, Columbus Investments where he invested in innovative, high growth small and mid-sized companies. At Gresham he worked alongside Ken Wotton and Brendan Gulston, co-managers of the UK Micro Cap and UK Multi Cap Income funds.
Most recently, Bencke has been working with Torvius Capital, an advisory and consulting firm, advising early stage, start-up businesses in emerging technology sectors on strategy, development, and investor relations.
Extended capabilities
Zverev said: “Gareth and I are very much looking forward to working with Graeme on the new strategy. His top quartile performance in global equities, allied to his strategic advisory work with innovative companies at the leading edge of their industries, means he is a fantastic addition. He brings tremendous insight into the ways in which the incredible rate of innovation in today’s industrial landscape creates opportunities for investors, is a great fit for the team, and a real asset to have on board as we build the global equity project.”
Amati founder and CEO Dr Paul Jourdan added that Bencke’s appointment “underscores our commitment to building a first-class investment capability in the global equity arena”.
“He will add considerable weight to our investment management resource, and we look forward to working with him as we extend our capabilities into this hugely important asset class.”
Bencke said: “I have followed Amati’s impressive growth since my earliest days with Gresham House and am truly excited to be joining such a thoughtful and experienced group of professionals. I firmly believe that my own experience complements that of the wider team and I look forward to making a significant contribution to the future success of the firm and to developing the new strategy.”
