A Baillie Gifford manager whose abrupt disappearance, days after a trust he was co-manager on launched, raised eyebrows has landed at Kames Capital.
Andre Kiselev (pictured) has joined Kames’ 28–strong equities team as an investment manager specialising in US stocks, a press release announcing his appointment said.
Based in the firm’s Edinburgh office, he will report to Kames head of equities Stephen Adams.
Kiselev had been a portfolio manager at Baillie Gifford for more than a decade, working across regional global and equity strategies. During his last three years at the Edinburgh fund house he was a co-manager on the £3bn Baillie Gifford American fund.
Along with fellow co-managers Gary Robinson and Helen Xiong, Kiselev was slated to launch the Baillie Gifford US Growth trust, touted as the firm’s first closed-ended product in 30 years.
But he abruptly left the business six days after the trust floated on the London Stock Exchange in March 2018.
The timing of his departure and the fact it was not flagged by Baillie Gifford perplexed commentators who pointed out it is normal practice for investment trusts to issue a regulatory filing when a named manager departs.
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After leaving Baillie Gifford, Kiselev wound up at Border to Coast Partnership, a local authority pooled pension fund, where he became a senior research manager focused on global equities.
Adams said Kiselev’s “wealth of knowledge on US stocks” would enable Kames to broaden its research into the region.
“We continue to experience a strong interest in our equity offering and are committed to having a team with the expertise to deliver for our clients,” he said.
