Edward Bonham Carter quits Jupiter board for stewardship role

Veteran of 26 years takes up new role reporting into CIO Stephen Pearson

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Edward Bonham Carter is stepping down from the Jupiter board to take up a role focusing on the firm’s stewardship and corporate responsibility activities.

Jupiter said in an RNS announcement on Monday that Bonham Carter will give up his position as vice chairman in May next year at the company’s next AGM to become director of stewardship and corporate responsibility.

In the new role, Bonham Carter (pictured) has become chairman of Jupiter’s stewardship committee and its corporate and social responsibility committee with immediate effect. He will support chief investment officer Stephen Pearson’s team and the dedicated governance and sustainability team.

He will also continue to meet with Jupiter’s investee companies and contribute to the company’s engagement and policy work.

Jupiter said the new role enabled Bonham Carter to manage his portfolio of external appointments, while “enabling Jupiter to benefit from his considerable expertise in responsible investing”.

In addition to his role at Jupiter, Bonham Carter is the senior independent director of Land Securities Group and ITV. He also sits on the boards of The Investor Forum and Netwealth Investments and is a trustee of the Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation, and a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of Livingbridge.

Bonham Carter has worked at Jupiter for 26 years, having joined in 1994 as a UK fund manager after working at Schroders and Electra Investment Trust. He was appointed chief investment officer in 1999, joint chief executive in 2000 and group chief executive in 2007, leading Jupiter through its management buyout that year and its subsequent IPO in June 2010.

He relinquished his role as group CEO in March 2014, when he was appointed vice chairman.

Jupiter chairman Nichola Pease said: “Edward has devoted over 25 years of service to Jupiter, leading the company through some of the most important milestones in its history including our IPO in 2010.

“Among his many contributions to Jupiter, he has championed the role of responsible investing and I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from his significant expertise in this area.”

Bonham Carter added: “I have been proud to serve on the board of Jupiter for many years, including seven as chief executive. After a transformational period for Jupiter, including a new chairman and executive team, followed by the successful acquisition of Merian Global Investors, I feel it is now a good time to step down from the board to enable me to focus on other interests.

“However, I am pleased to be able to remain involved with Jupiter, working closely with the existing experienced team to provide a strong voice on a subject that understandably continues to grow in importance to our clients.”