Ian joined AJ Bell as head of investment partnerships in November 2024. In this role, he works with the firm's investments team, which manages a bespoke MPS for advised clients, building and managing portfolios tailored to individual specifications for adviser firms and their clients. 

Prior to this role, he was head of manager selection and responsible investment having joined Barclays in 2016. He led a team of 10 covering equity funds, fixed income funds and liquid alternative funds as well as being responsible for all aspects of ESG investing within the business. The team won many awards; the most notable for Ian as an individual was twice being voted Citywire's leading fund selector in the UK. The team managed a wide range of multi-asset class and single-asset class multi-manager portfolios.

Ian started his career as a UK equity fund manager with the CIS and then Rothschild Asset Management before moving into the manager analysis industry. He spent almost a decade with Skandia (now Quilter Investors) where he covered a range of asset classes over time, most latterly alternatives, and managed several top performing fund-of-funds. He then moved to Aviva Investors six years before joining Barclays. At Aviva Investors, Ian led the multi-manager team, delivering recommendations for the group globally as well as managing a number of successful multi-manager products.

Other industry positions have included being a member of the Investment Association’s Sector Classification Committee, a trustee director of the Aviva Staff Pension Scheme and a member of the TISA Responsible and Sustainable Investment Committee. Ian has worked overseas on several occasions including a year in each of the Channel Islands and Australia. He has an MSc from Warwick University in Economics and Finance and a degree in Economics. He is also a member of both the CFA Institute and the CAIA and holds the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing. Outside of work, Ian is busy driving his two sports-mad teenage boys to various fixtures and happily supporting them from the sidelines. He scores for their cricket teams and manages one of their tennis teams. He is a regular gym goer and weekly Pilates class attendee himself. Ian also tries to live sustainably. Examples include having solar panels on his home, carbon offsetting his family's flights and having just one car – an EV. 

Q1. Why is corporate culture becoming more important to you when deciding who you allocate assets to?

I believe that there are 5 key areas that are important to assess when seeking to select outperforming funds or managers to allocate to. One of those is the parent company, whilst another is the people involved. I think it is essential to partner with firms that see the value of a strong culture. The 'tone from the top' should ensure things like diverse teams, recycling policies and transparent procedures. This should help lead to better decision-making by their investment teams, a more pleasant and meritocratic workplace and a superior contribution by the business to wider society and the planet. 

Q2. In your view, why is it important to set a higher standard of stewardship and behaviour within the investment industry?

The investment industry commands £trillions in assets and has huge sway over how the businesses in which they invest behave. Investment firms can only be credible in pushing for change at investee firms if they, themselves, have high standards and behave in an appropriate manner. Improving stewardship is not only the right thing to do but it should enhance trust and credibility with both colleagues and clients (and there have certainly been high profile industry examples of where it has been sadly lacking in the past). 

Q3. Why did you decide to sit on the ACT Stewardship Council and what does it mean to you personally?

I have a neurodiverse son. He is very smart and capable at school, but looks at situations through a slightly different lens. From a personal perspective, I want to be able to contribute to a more inclusive workplace culture such that minorities, like my son, have 'a fair go' and are recognised for the diversity of thought that they can bring to a team. Sitting on the ACT Stewardship Council helps me to do that, in a small way, as it pertains to the investment industry.