Abrdn has appointed Peter Branner as chief investment officer, effective 1 May.
He joins from Dutch pension investor APG Asset Management, where he has been responsible for investment leadership and oversight of public and private markets.
Prior to that, he served as chief executive and chief investment officer of Swedish fund manager SEB Investment Management, responsible for the overall investment process at the firm.
Branner has also held other senior investment roles, including chief investment officer at Fortis Investments’ multi management division in London and managing director of IKANO Fund Management in Luxembourg.
The appointment is part of abrdn's simplification of the product offering, aimed at increasing efficiency and improving investment performance.
He will report into Chris Demetriou and Rene Buehlmann, co-chief executives of investments at the firm.
Buehlmann said: “Peter’s experience will be fundamental in driving performance, further modernising our investment approaches and implementing future-fit investment technologies.”
Demetriou added: “Over the past two years we have made great strides in reshaping our investments business - Peter’s outstanding track record and experienced leadership will be invaluable as our re-shaped business prepares for growth.“
Branner commented: “Having led different teams and offerings over the years, I am familiar with the scale of the ambition that abrdn has.
“As a passionate advocate for sustainable long-term investing, and the wider positive impacts the industry can deliver, I am looking forward to being part of a firm that has a strong heritage in sustainable investing and exploring how we best support our clients in a challenged world.”
Abrdn now structures its business into three areas – investments, adviser and personal.
Across these, the firm manages and administers £508bn of assets for clients, as at the end of June, 2022.
The investments division manages £386bn on behalf of individuals, governments, pension funds, insurers, companies, charities and foundations – with around 800 investment specialists in more than 30 locations.
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