Fundscape has nabbed Gavin Fielding from Aviva, where he was for 27 years, to take on the role of editorial director as the fund industry research house reveals plans to expand its research for the intermediary and consumer spaces.
Fielding was most recently investment research manager for the strategic partnership division at Aviva, where he was involved in researching potential new markets and developing investment concepts that could be taken to market, including the emerging wrap platform propositions.
He was part of the small team that developed the Aviva direct-to-consumer (D2C) platform and supported the advised wrap through its various incarnations.
Bella Caridade-Ferreira (pictured), Fundscape CEO, said she had been “waiting for someone like him for years”. “Not only does he have unparalleled knowledge of and expertise in investments and platforms, but he’s a data junkie who can write too — that’s an exceptionally rare find.”
Fielding will continue to be based in York and become a representative for the firm in the North. His new role will enable the business to meet the demand for in-depth research and analysis, a press release said.
Intermediary and D2C push
Speaking to Portfolio Adviser, Caridade-Ferreira said Fundscape will be doing much more in the intermediary and consumer spaces. “We’re already well known and respected by fund groups and platforms. The next stage is to develop a similar profile in the intermediary and consumer arenas.”
She said additional publications include a new series of in-depth platform reports and due diligence reports for advisers. “We’re known for in-depth, well-researched reports covering the entire UK financial services industry. We’ve been overwhelmed by demand and Gavin’s appointment will allow us to increase our bandwidth and provide the serious research that clients are clamouring for.”
Fielding’s appointment takes Fundscape’s total staff count to seven. “We punch well above our weight. We plan to add more editorial people next year,” Caridade-Ferreira said.
Fielding’s background
Fielding described Fundscape as a friendly and professional business that he had worked with for many years. “Not only is Fundscape data sharp, it covers investments as well as platforms and much more, which is a great fit for me,” he said.
“Fundscape data is incredibly rich and I’ll be able to spot edges and opportunities for platforms, fund managers, DFMs and advisers. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Prior to Aviva, Fielding joined Norwich Union Life Society in 1991, before its merger.
Among other projects, he began working on group pension schemes and conducting business analysis for their IT department. Following that, he worked on the flotation before moving to the sales and marketing department in 1998 where he managed unit-linked bonds and then the ISA range.
After the merger of Norwich Union with CGU in 2000, Fielding relocated to York to help integrate the investment range for the new company.
Fielding said: “I was lucky to join a traditional life company just as the internet revolution was happening and develop an understanding of how investment products were constructed. I first came across platforms with the Norwich Union Australia Navigator wrap in 1999. It got me into platforms and I could see this was the way to go.
“Having taken many products to market, I found I enjoyed the initial research aspect most of all and was happier developing ideas and sales angles that could be passed onto others.”
