James Mahon to step down as Church House CEO after 11 years

Jerry Wharton to lead the business from 1 January 2022

2 minutes

Church House Investment Management’s James Mahon is stepping back as chief executive after 11 years in the role.

Mahon (pictured), who was instrumental in establishing Church House in 1999, is being replaced as CEO by joint-CIO and director Jerry Wharton from 1 January 2022.

Mahon will remain with the company as joint-CIO and as a member of the board as an executive director. He will also continue to co-manage the Tenax Absolute Return Strategies fund and be involved in running the firm’s UK and global equity funds and private client portfolios.

As CEO Wharton will assume responsibility for the strategic development of the business he joined in 2004.

Operations director Roger Davis will take up the role of managing director with responsibility for the day-to-day management of the business.

The private client business will continue to be run by James Johnsen, who is also an executive director.

Mahon said it had been a great privilege to have led Church House for the past 11 years.

He added: “First and foremost, I am proud of our record of consistent risk-adjusted returns for our clients through some difficult times. This track record provides a very solid foundation for the future development of the business. I am delighted to be continuing with the company and supporting Jerry in the management of our funds.

“The business is now at a scale where the time for a new team to take over is nigh and I am confident that, under Jerry’s leadership, working with Roger and James Johnsen, Church House will continue to go from strength to strength.”

Wharton added: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of CEO and the opportunity this presents to lead the strategic development of our business. Alongside this, I will fully maintain my existing involvement in the management of our funds, in particular managing CHIG and co-managing Tenax with James, building on our excellent track record of capital preservation.”