Odey Asset Management has swiped emerging markets manager Sophia Whitbread from Newton Investment Management for its newly created funds business.
Whitbread (pictured) will join Brook Asset Management, launched by Crispin Odey’s eponymous funds business, in June as an assistant portfolio manager on its Global Emerging Markets strategy.
There she will be reunited with long-time Newton IM colleague Rob Marshall-Lee who was poached by Odey last November to head up its brand-new emerging markets business.
The pair worked together at Newton for over a decade, managing the £303.9m BNY Mellon Global Emerging Markets fund since 2011 and £161.1m BNY Mellon Oriental fund since 2019. Both vehicles are top quartile over all major time periods compared with their respective peers.
The strategies are now run by Ian Smith and Paul Birchenough who Newton hired from Axa Investment Managers following Marshall-Lee’s departure.
See also: Odey AM ropes in Newton manager for emerging markets foray as business rebrand kicks off
Brook Asset Management CEO Timothy Pearey praised Whitbread and Marshall-Lee as “one of the most respected emerging market investment teams in the industry for some time”. “We are delighted they will link up again for the benefit of our clients.”
Pearey added: “We ensure that our investment teams have complete investment autonomy to manage their portfolios and develop their investment processes with a clear objective of maximising investment returns.
“We are now well-placed to develop the Brook EM franchise and our product offering with this market leading team.”
Whitbread began her career at Newton as a global equity analyst in 2005. In 2010 she left to join Baillie Gifford as an investment analyst in its Long-Term Global Growth team, then run by James Anderson, but after four months returned to Newton and joined the emerging markets team.
Whitbread said she was excited to be joining Brook “which combines a deep research capability, impressive business infrastructure and an ambitious business development strategy”.
“It is clear that Brook offers a thoroughly intellectual investment environment with strong belief in highly active fund management,” she said.
“In particular, I look forward to re-joining Robert Marshall-Lee to resume our successful partnership in delivering investment performance for our clients.”
Odey AM announced it was creating Brook AM, a separate entity under the Odey umbrella, last November following news that Odey would be stepping back as co-chief executive.
See also: Crispin Odey relinquishes CEO duties as eponymous firm rebrands
The millionaire hedge funder has been dogged by an alleged indecent assault charge since last summer, with Odey AM reportedly considering contingency plans for his flagship European fund.
Odey maintained his innocence during a two-day trial this month which has been adjourned until 11 March after being beset by technical glitches.
See also: Judge refuses to throw out Crispin Odey indecent assault case
