Oberon Investments has made a duo of senior appointments, naming industry veteran Mike Cuthbert as chairman and former Atomos CIO Phil Smeaton (pictured) as head of investments.
Cuthbert boasts nearly 40 years’ experience in investment banking, most recently serving as co-head of financials at Zeus Capital. Prior to that, Cuthbert was managing director and head of financial sales at Canaccord Genuity. He was also one of the founding members of Bridgewell Group, and worked at Charterhouse ING as head of equity sales.
As chairman he succeeds Alex Hambro, who steps back but remains a non-executive director at Oberon.
Cuthbert said: “I am really looking forward to taking on the role of chairman at Oberon and working with [CEO Simon McGivern] and his impressive team. After specialising in asset and wealth management companies for many years it will be a great opportunity to help this exciting young company achieve its ambitious targets for growth.”
McGivern added: “The board welcomes Mike to the Oberon chairman role and believes that his skills, experience and capabilities will help us to enter the next phase of the group’s development and to deliver our ambitious strategic plan.”
McGivern also thanked Hambro for his “fantastic contribution” as chairman over the past four years.
As head of investments, Smeaton joins the boutique’s investment management team after eight years at Atomos. He started as head of UK equities in December 2014, before being promoted to CIO in August 2016.
Prior to that he worked for Batterymarch and Tokyo Mitsubishi Asset Management as a fund manager, starting his career in 2000.
McGivern said he not only brings skill and experience, but added that “his passion to work for clients, and his engagement with colleagues, makes him a perfect fit for [Oberon]”.
See also: Oberon recruits WH Ireland manager
