The UK financial services and investment group, Smith & Williamson, said it has appointed Nick Hodgson to lead its fund business, joining from UK investment firm AXA Framlington. Mr Hodgson starts at Smith & Williamson on 22 September.

Mr Hodgson has been consulting to the investment management industry in 2008. Prior to that, he was a main board director at Framlington responsible for marketing and sales, and subsequently a director at AXA Framlington, as it was known after it was acquired by AXA, the French insurer. Mr Hodgson has also held similar senior positions with Rothschild and Dresdner RCM.

Smith & Williamson Investment Management has over £8 billion of client assets under management.