Veteran fund manager Gerrit Smit will step down from his role as portfolio manager to become chair of Stonehage Fleming’s Global Equity Management business and investment committee, effective 14 April 2026.
Smit (pictured right) has 41 years of experience as an equity analyst, chief investment strategist and portfolio manager. He founded the Stonehage Fleming Global Best Ideas Equity fund in 2013, which has since risen to more than £1.51bn in assets under management.
Since its inception (16 August 2013), the fund has delivered a 233.5% total return in sterling for its investors. This is an outperformance compared to the IA Global sector average (215%) but trailed the MSCI ACWI’s 295.2% return over this period.
Graham Wainer, CEO of investment management, said: “We are delighted that Gerrit is becoming chairman in April to lead the Global Equity Management business through the next stage of its growth and development. There is no better or more knowledgeable person to take on this crucial role.”
Replacing Smit as lead portfolio manager on the Global Best Ideas equity strategy is Carolyn Bell (pictured left), the current co-manager.
See also: Stonehage Fleming IM appoints deputy to flagship Global Best Ideas Equity fund
She joined the team in April 2024 and has been the deputy manager since October 2024. Bell will continue to call on Smit’s experience as the chair of the Investment Committee to help ensure a smooth transition.
Smit added: “Continuing within our shared GBI investment philosophy, strategy and process, Carolyn is the right person to succeed me on the strategy when I transition to Chairman, bringing to bear her deep industry expertise and experience working with the GBI investment team.”
Bell has more than 17 years of industry experience, including a decade at Aegon Asset Management, where she led the Aegon North American Pension fund and the Global Technology fund.
Before that, she spent five years at Baillie Gifford as a member of the investment analyst team.
