Whitley, partner and head of the Japanese Equities team, along with Stephen Rodger and Ken Barker, both partners within the firm’s fixed income area, are all due to retire on 30 April 2018.
Whitley (pictured) is the longest standing, having spent 37 years with the firm, and has managed the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust since 2001.
Matthew Brett will take over as lead portfolio manager for the trust, supported by Praveen Kumar as deputy portfolio manager.
Donald Farquharson will take on Whitley’s responsibilities as head of the Japanese team and continue to manage the Japan Growth strategy.
Andrew Telfer, joint senior partner at Baillie Gifford, said: “Sarah has generated excellent returns for clients over more than three decades and built a significant Japanese equities client base. We would like to thank her for her remarkable dedication to the firm.
“Our sincere thanks also go to Stephen Rodger and Ken Barker for their significant contributions over many years within our fixed income business.
“These retirements are part of the natural evolution of Baillie Gifford’s independent private partnership.”
Rodger retires after more than 17 years with Gregory Turnbull Schwartz adopting lead responsibility for all investment grade portfolios and Robert Baltzer will continue as head of high yield.
Torcail Stewart will remain manager of the Baillie Gifford Corporate Bond Fund, which he has co-managed alongside Rodger since 2010.
Barker steps down from his position after 16 years, where he first joined as a fixed income investment manager before moving to the clients’ department in 2007 to focus on fixed income client service.
