London-based J O Hambro Capital Management has recruited Sebastien Bidault to provide dedicated analytical support to its European Select Values Fund, led by senior fund manager Robbie Wouters.

Bidault joins investment boutique JOHCM from Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking, where he spent two years as an equity researcher covering the global software and IT services sector and led coverage of mid-cap stocks.

An intended cap of £750 million (about $1.19 billion) was set at the fund’s launch in May 2003. This has now been raised to £1.25 billion, reflecting the markedly lower turnover of the fund since Wouters assumed lead manager status, the portfolio’s now reduced exposure to smaller company stocks and the substantial appreciation of the euro against sterling since 2003, the firm said.