9-member equity team joins Aviva Investors

Mikhail Zverev and Alistair Way were appointed head of global equities and head of global emerging market equities respectively, leading a new nine-member team at Aviva Investors, a spokesman said.

The positions are all new, part of an expansion of the firm's equities business, the spokesman added.

Messrs. Zverev and Way will report to David Cumming, chief investment officer, equities. Mr. Zverev joins Oct. 1, and Mr. Way will join on July 16.

Henry Flockhart and Adam McInally were named U.K. equity portfolio managers, reporting to Mr. Cumming. Jaime Ramos Martin, Stephanie Niven and Ross Mathison were named global equity portfolio managers, reporting to Mr. Zverev.

Jonathan Toub and Will Malcolm, both chosen as global emerging markets portfolio managers, will report to Mr. Way.

"These appointments, along with additional hires we plan to make this year, will complete the creation of strong, integrated teams in the key areas of global, emerging markets, Europe, U.S. and U.K. equities," Mr. Cumming said in a news release.

Added Euan Munro, CEO at Aviva Investors, in the same release: "Investing in our equities capabilities is a strategic priority for our business. These hires will enhance our ability to offer compelling equity propositions for wholesale and institutional investors, as well as strengthening idea generation for our broader range of investment solutions."

The firm has £67.7 billion ($89.9 billion) in equities assets under management, and £353 billion in total assets under management.

Eight team members had worked at Aberdeen Standard Investments, from the heritage Standard Life Investments business.

Mr. Zverev was head of global equities at Standard Life Investments, and Mr. Way was head of Asia and global emerging market equities. Messrs. Flockhart and McInally were investment directors-U.K. equities and portfolio managers. Mr. Ramos Martin was senior vice president, global equities; Mr. Mathison was investment director in the global equities and European equities teams. Mr. Toub was investment director-global emerging market equities, and Mr. Malcolm was investment director-global emerging market and Asia equities.

Ms. Niven was portfolio manager of the global equity fund at Tesco Pension Investment. Executives could not be reached for comment on a replacement.

An Aberdeen Standard spokesman said: "Inevitably when you integrate two investment teams there will be some departures. Following the merger of Aberdeen Asset Management and Standard Life, we have created one of the largest and best resourced equities teams in the industry. We now have over 150 equity investment professionals on the ground around the world. That scale is important because our approach relies on fundamental research, which we think is best carried out by well-resourced teams which are close to the markets in which they are investing."

The spokesman added the executives left a while ago and their duties were assumed by others. Following the merger Stephen Docherty was appointed head of global equities; Devan Kaloo was named head of emerging market equities and Mr. Toub's responsibilities were taken on by the combined and enlarged global emerging markets team.