Brewin Dolphin has promoted Davina Rich to head of research as it bumps up Guy Foster to chief strategist.
Rich (pictured) joined Brewin’s West End office in 2019 as an investment director from Waverton Investment Management. She has been promoted to the helm of the DFM’s 17-strong in-house research team, taking over for Foster who will now lead the investment solutions team.
Though Rich has been at the firm for just two years, the wealth manager said she has been “instrumental” in the investment team of its 1762 advice arm, helping to develop “innovative propositions” and chairing company-wide global research forums.
She has over 20 years experience in the industry, starting her career at Morgan Grenfell Investment Management before co-founding Stoneware Capital where she ran a global market neutral hedge fund.
Managing director of wealth and investment Charles Ferry said she had been selected after and “extensive internal and external hiring process involving a number of high calibre applicants”.
“It’s rare to find someone that combines the skills of analyst, asset manager and client-facing investment manager, so I’m delighted that we have been able to fill this key role from within,” he said.
Guy Foster to spearhead MPS and Voyager growth
Foster, who joined Brewin in 2006 and has led the research team since 2014, will drive the DFM’s asset allocation as chief strategist and support the growth of its discretionary business, including its £4.4bn managed portfolio service, and its new fund-of-funds Voyager business launched last October.
Money going into Brewin’s discretionary business has slowed thanks to the coronavirus crisis, with net flows falling by £600m in 2020 to £0.9bn from £1.4bn the year before.
Total assets in the discretionary arm stood at £41.2bn at the end of September, only marginally higher than the £40.1bn at the start of the year.
Foster said he was “humbled” to have supported Brewin in growing its business and client base over the years and said Rich would add “valuable insight” to enhance the research team.
