M&G Investments has promoted a pair of deputy managers to pole position on a UK equity income and smaller companies fund as it shakes-up its UK equity desk.
Elina Symon (pictured) will take over for incumbent manager Michael Stiasny on the £511m UK Income Distribution fund with immediate effect, while Stiasny becomes deputy manager. M&G said the promotion is in recognition of Symon’s significant contribution to the fund since becoming deputy manager in March 2019.
Symon joined M&G as a graduate in 2011 and has been a dedicated analyst in the Recovery team previously led by Tom Dobell. She is also a deputy manager on the £1.6bn Recovery fund which has been led by Stiasny since Dobell’s departure in late 2020.
The UK equity team shake-up will also see James Taylor appointed to manager on the £278m M&G Smaller Companies fund on 1 July. The fund house said Taylor has worked with the team led by Garfield Kiff for a number of years and noted his contribution to small-cap stock selection. Kiff will co-deputise on the strategy alongside existing deputy manager Hilary Aldridge.
Taylor also joined as a graduate trainee in 2014 and has been a deputy manager on the £1bn Dividend fund also run by Stiasny since August 2019.
M&G said there will be no changes to the aims, objectives or policies of either fund.
Commenting on the promotions, head of UK equities Stiasny said: “Elina and James have both demonstrated excellent investment ideas and stock selection skills despite a challenging backdrop for UK equity markets in recent years. It’s provided us with the opportunity to promote two talented managers who will use their analytical expertise to the benefit our customers.”
