Client Portfolio Managers

Julie-Ann Ashcroft moved to the company following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and became Head of Investments in April 2017.

She is the lead manager of the Balanced Bridge and ASCOS Income funds and Charity Income Strategies as well as leading on Responsible Investment proposition. Julie-Ann joined Newton in 2007 as a portfolio manager from Mellon Global Investment.

Julie-Ann is a CFA Charterholder and a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments. She completed four years of PhD research at Imperial College, London after graduating from Sheffield University.

Dexter is a Charities Portfolio Manager having joined the company in 2016. Dexter works on the management of investment portfolios for a diverse range of charities, private clients and trusts.

Dexter is a specialist on ethical investing and chairs the ESG & Ethical advisory group for the business. Dexter graduated from the University of Nottingham with a first class degree in Industrial Economics. Dexter is a CFA candidate, a holder of the Investment Management Certificate, and a member of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of the UK.

Gair Brisbane has over 20 years’ experience in the charity sector as a volunteer and charity Director. Gair moved into investment management in 2011 to specialise in charity investments and joined the company, within the Charity Team in 2016.

Gair holds the Investment Management Certificate, the Investment Advisers Diploma, the Private Client Investment Advice and Management and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. Prior to Financial Services Gair spent six years commissioned in the Royal Air Force.

Gair is a graduate of Aberdeen University, and his involvement in the charities sector in Scotland extends to his role as a trustee of the Officers’ Association Scotland where he also sits on the Finance and Investment committee. Gair maintains a particular interest in conservation and youth development and is a member of the Scottish Charity Finance Group.

Lauren is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI) and completed her CISI Masters in Wealth Management in 2013. She graduated in 2009, with a degree in Economics, and has more than 11 years’ industry experience. Having previously worked for Redmayne Bentley, and Tilney Investment Management, Lauren has been managing portfolios for clients for many years, and also includes time on the trading floor, at a former employer, amongst her experience. She has a real passion for financial markets, and enjoys bringing this to the benefit of her clients. In her spare time Lauren enjoys spending time with family and friends as well as long walks with her dog, across her home county of Yorkshire.

Mike heads up the discretionary investment management from abrdn, Edinburgh team with responsibility for a team of six Portfolio Managers. He has been with the company since 2013, having previously headed up Newton's private client and charity team in Edinburgh prior to its move to Aberdeen Standard Capital.

Mike has over 25 years’ experience in investment management. His responsibilities also include managing investment portfolios on behalf of charities and family groups. An Economics graduate of Heriot-Watt University, Mike holds an MBA from the University of Edinburgh and is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Mike is a former trustee of the Life Changes Trust, a charity supporting young people with experience of being in care and people affected by dementia. He remains a member of the Charity’s Finance Committee.

Hannah joined the company from Brewin Dolphin in 2021 and has 7 years of experience in financial services. She is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and is in the process of undertaking her Masters in Wealth Management exams. In her spare time Hannah enjoys walking in the Yorkshire Dales and experimenting with Asian cuisine.

John Ewen moved to the company following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and manages portfolios for private clients, charities, trusts and pensions. He is responsible for the Private Client Growth Model, which provides leadership on portfolio construction, stock selection and timing for clients seeking to achieve long-term capital growth through direct investment and also the lead manager of the Falcon Fund.

He joined Newton in 1992 and has over 28 years of investment experience. John is an Associate of the CFA Society of the UK, holds the ASIP designation, is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments and graduated from St Andrews University with a Masters in Economics.

Laurence manages portfolios for charities, private clients, trusts and pensions. Prior to joining the business in 2013, Laurence was with Barclays Wealth and Investment Management, where he was an Investment Analyst in London and Singapore before assuming the position of Portfolio Manager.

A graduate of Durham University, Laurence is a CFA Charterholder and holds the Investment Management. He is an active member and ambassador of the Chartered Financial Analyst Society of the UK. Outside of his professional responsibilities, Laurence is a Trustee for a grant-making charity which aims to support the wellness of (former) employees and their families.

Alastair joined the company in 2010, he has been helping clients manage their money since 1994 and has over 15 years of investment management experience.

Based in our Birmingham office, he is responsible for managing portfolios for private clients, pensions and trustees. Prior to this Alastair worked for 16 years at Lloyds Private Banking during which time he undertook a number of roles including financial planning & compliance management before eventually managing portfolios in 2004 for high and ultra-high net worth private clients, charities, trusts and pensions on both a discretionary and non-discretionary basis.

Alastair holds the Investment Advice Diploma (Securities) and the Certificate in Financial Planning. He is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Richard joined following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and manages portfolios for private clients, trusts and pensions. He joined Newton in 2000, having spent ten years with the Bank of Scotland where he specialised in the management of family trusts. He has over 13 years of investment experience, is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, holds the Investment Management Certificate and the Securities Institute Diploma and is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Gregg is Head of Private Clients for both our Birmingham and Bristol offices. A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, Gregg joined the company in 2010 from Lloyds Private Banking. He has worked in Financial Services for 21 years, with the majority of those as an investment manager responsible for managing the affairs of both private and corporate clients. Originally from Bristol, Gregg moved to Birmingham for University and having achieved a BA (Hons) degree, continues to live locally whilst retaining strong links with the South West.

Adam joined as a Client Portfolio Manager in October 2018 after 4 years with J Edward Sellars Ltd. Whilst there, he was their Senior Investment Manager working on the Advisory Managed side of the business. A Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment, Adam is originally from Plymouth and moved to Nottingham in 2010 to attend University where he gained a BA (Hons) degree, before moving back to the South West (Bristol) in 2015.

Tony joined in 2013 as a Senior Client Portfolio Manager from a large wealth management arm of a high street bank. He has extensive experience in financial services spanning over 30 years and is responsible for the management of private client, trust, charity and pension portfolios. Tony is a chartered fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and is a chartered member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Clare joined following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and manages portfolios for international private clients. She joined Newton in 2013 from HSBC Private Bank where she managed globally diversified portfolios across all asset classes. Clare has 15 years of investment experience, she holds the Private Client Investment and Management diploma and the Investment Management Certificate, has passed the Securities Representative Exams, is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and has a BA in European Business Economics.

Craig joined from Cornelian Asset Managers in 2010. Craig is responsible for the management of private client, charity and defined benefit pension schemes portfolios. Craig holds the Investment Management Certificate, the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment.

Aaron King moved to the company following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and has over 10 years industry experience. Aaron manages investment portfolios for a range of onshore and international private clients, pension, corporations & trusts. Aaron started his career at Newton as a Portfolio Manager’s Assistant. In addition, Aaron holds the Private Client Investment Advice & Management diploma and the Investment Management Certificate and graduated from the University of Essex with a BA Honours in Law.

Mark joined following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013 and manages portfolios for private clients, trusts and pensions. He joined Newton in 1999 after spending 15 years with Clerical Medical Investment Group. Mark has over 28 years of investment experience, holds the Financial Planning Certificate, the Private Client Investment Advice and Management diploma, the Investment Management Certificate and is a Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments.

Toby joined from Barclays Wealth in July 2012, where he was a Discretionary Portfolio Manager responsible for financial professionals, charities and private individuals. Toby graduated in 2000 with a BEng in Civil Engineering from the University of Nottingham and later that year started his career at a London stockbroker. He went on to become a discretionary manager at Smith & Williamson, where he was also responsible for equity and fund research. He subsequently managed client portfolios at Bestinvest and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Rob Richardson joined the company in 2014. Rob has day-to-day responsibility for managing portfolios for private clients, working closely with a number of financial advisers. Rob is a an Associate member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI).

Steve joined the company in March 2021 as Head of Private Clients in Leeds. He will also lead the Leeds office, representing the business in the North of England. Steve has over 23 years’ investment industry experience of helping clients to achieve their financial goals.

He joined Broadbridge Stockbrokers in Leeds in 1997 as an investment manager and they were acquired by Brewin Dolphin in May 2000. He spent the next 20 years there and as a Senior Investment Manager looked after a £300m client bank of multi asset portfolios for high net worth clients, trusts, corporates and charities, working closely with IFAs and professional advisers. He also sat on their Investment Risk Committee and the CISI Investment Risk & Taxation Exam Panel. Steve graduated with a degree in law from the University of Lancaster in 1997, and is a Chartered Wealth Manager (FCSI).

Location: Leeds

Charlie joined in August 2016 having spent nearly eight years at Brewin Dolphin. He graduated in 1998 with a 1st class honours degree from Leeds University before starting his career in the city. He has 18 years of investment experience, is a Chartered Wealth Manager and fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.

Location: London

Caroline is a joint Managing Director Discretionary, abrdn, having joined following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013.

Caroline joined Newton in 1998 and was head of the private client team and a board member. Having begun her career as a private client portfolio manager, Caroline subsequently became the lead manager of flagship private client funds and also managed a number of private investment vehicles and portfolios. She joined Newton from Ernst & Young where she trained as a Chartered Accountant.

Caroline has over 18 years of investment experience, is a CFA charter holder, a Chartered Accountant, a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and has gained the ASIP designation. In addition, she holds an honours degree in Economics from Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Location: London

Ben joined following the acquisition of the Newton private client business in 2013. He manages portfolios for private clients, trusts and pensions and is the lead manager on the Bridge and Phoenix Funds. Ben has over eight years of investment experience building upon his five years as an accountant. Ben graduated from the University of Leicester, holds the Investment Management Certificate, is a Chartered Management Accountant, is an Associate of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments and is a CFA Charterholder.

Location: London

Will joined from Ashcourt Rowan Asset Management in 2015. At abrdn, Will works closely with colleagues managing investment portfolios for private clients, trusts and pension schemes. He is a Chartered Wealth Manager, he holds the CISI Diploma in Wealth Management, the Investment Management Certificate and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment.