The latest moves and appointments in wealth management in the UK, the rest of Europe, the Middle East and other select locations.

Octopus Investments
Octopus Investments, an investment manager in the UK, this week appointed Lieven Debruyne as executive vice chair.

The newly created role focuses on creating a scalable and industry-leading investment platform for institutional investors globally, in alternative asset classes across venture capital, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, real estate, healthcare and smaller listed companies.

Lieven has a career in asset management, including 20 years at Schroders Investment Management, spanning roles in Hong Kong, including chief executive of the Asia Pacific region, and London, as global head of distribution and member of the group management committee. In the latter roles, he was responsible for leading on the strategy and growth of the institutional, retail and wealth management businesses. He also served on the board of Greencoat Capital, the investment manager to Greencoat UK Wind, a listed renewable infrastructure trust. Most recently, Lieven has worked as a senior advisor with the Boston Consulting Group, providing consulting expertise in the firm’s financial institution practice, focusing on private markets, asset and wealth management.

At Octopus, Lieven will take responsibility for establishing a capital raising platform focused on growing its institutional client base globally, part of the growth strategy for the business. Additionally, he will focus on expanding the firm’s investment capabilities by developing new strategies with high growth potential, which will allow the firm to deploy more capital into its impact driven funds. This will enable Octopus to grow the company’s assets under management from its current base of £13.5 billion ($17.3 billion) towards the £50 billion it aims to raise.

Old Mill
UK-based accountancy and financial advisory firm Old Mill has a new look six-strong board of directors who bring a wealth of experience and expertise.

They include newly-appointed CEO Mark Neath, and the firm’s new managing director Jolyon Stonehouse.

Neath has been with Old Mill for 18 years and has 25 years’ experience as a qualified chartered accountant. He is responsible for the firm’s longer-term culture, people and growth plans, and will lead the company forward, driving its vision and strategic direction.

Stonehouse – a chartered accountant – is one of the founders of Old Mill and a previous managing partner. The new role of MD has been created to enable the CEO to focus on long-term strategy. As MD, Stonehouse will be responsible for the running of the firm and the delivery of the current year’s plan. Working with the executive management committee, he will serve as a link between the operating service lines and the board.

The other members of the new board are:

Simon Cole, one of the founders of Old Mill and a highly experienced chartered financial planner. As chair, he is responsible for risk management and ensuring that the company's strategies align with shareholder interests.

Paula Hodge – a chartered financial planner – is also one of the founders of Old Mill. As head of wealth management, she will ensure that the wealth management’s business interests and growth strategies are well integrated into the company's overall plans.

Andrew Vickery – a chartered accountant and head of the rural service line – will do the same for the accountancy business.

Jonathan Fox, who is the board’s non-executive advisor, has a wealth of experience in professional services. He will provide an external viewpoint, drawing on his extensive experience across a broad spectrum of businesses to guide strategic decisions.

"The new structure reflects Old Mill’s commitment to robust governance and strategic oversight and ensures the firm is well-positioned to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future,” Stonehouse said. “I look forward to ensuring our strategic goals and values are executed effectively.”

Evelyn Partners
Evelyn Partners, a UK-based wealth management and professional services group, has appointed Emma Rivers as a financial planner to help support the continued growth of the firm’s Guildford office.

Rivers (pictured) was previously a wealth planner at Barclays Wealth Management & Private Bank, where she advised high net worth and UHNW clients on their financial planning needs such as inheritance tax planning, tax-efficient investing, pensions and retirement planning, and financial protection. Prior to that she was advising at Saunderson House (part of Rathbones Group) focusing on clients who were partners of the Big 4 accountancy firms.

“Emma brings valuable industry experience and I’m confident she’ll be a great asset to our already experienced team in Guildford,” Mark Wilkins, managing partner in Evelyn Partners’ Guildford office said.

BNP Paribas Asset Management
BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNPPAM) has appointed Pieter Oyens as chief marketing officer (CMO) and Guillaume Wehry as co-head of global product strategy.

Oyens, who reports to Steven Billiet, head of global client group, will be leading the marketing organisation to ensure that it aligns with the priorities of the products, investments and sales teams globally, regionally, and locally.

Oyens has over 20 years of asset management and investment banking experience with different regional and global executive roles in sales, product development and derivatives. Previously, he was co-head of global product strategy at BNPPAM. Prior to moving to Paris, Oyens was head of Asia Pacific Investment Specialists based in Hong Kong and a member of the regional executive committee. During the 14 years he spent in Hong Kong working for, amongst others BNP Paribas and ABN AMRO Bank, he gained extensive experience of Asia.

Oyens holds a master’s degree in law from the University of Leiden in the Netherlands and is a CFA charter holder.

In addition, Wehry will lead the product strategy team alongside François Roux, reporting to Pierre Moulin, global head of products and strategic marketing.

Wehry has more than 25 years of experience in the asset management industry, of which more than 10 years were based in Asia. He has held various positions of responsibility within BNP Paribas, SGAM and Amundi in Europe and Asia.

In 2018, he joined BNP Paribas Asset Management as chief marketing officer Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, where he supported the business efforts in the region, specifically on the wholesale distribution side.

Wehry holds a master's degree in management from Université Paris IX Dauphine.