Mr Bentley has held a number of senior roles during his 40-year career, including long term positions at Henderson, M&G, and Old Mutual. Since 2013 he has run his own investment marketing consultancy gbi2, working with high-profile clients in the UK and Europe including Aviva, Axa, and JP Morgan.
Highlights of his career include the design and launch of the UK’s first corporate bond fund at M&G, pioneering the use of risk profiling and asset allocation tools at Selestia in 2001, and the development of the first risk targeted fund investment solution at Old Mutual in 2008.
Steven Lloyd, investment-director of the Reading-based firm, cited his “wealth of experience in multi-asset and multi-manager investments, which matches our investment philosophy” for him landing the role.
Mr Lloyd said: “He also has a very strong background in investment marketing which can only help to improve our offering to clients.
“I would also like to extend my thanks to Stewart who has done a great job in developing the Avellemy Investment Committee over the last two years, in which time we oversaw an increase in AUM from £165m to just short of £500m.”
Mr Bentley said: “I’m delighted to be contributing to the development of an already successful business. I’m especially looking forward to working with Steven and the rest of what is an outstanding team.”
Distinct from his predecessor Stewart Cowley’s role, Bentley will be chair of the entire group’s investment committee, rather than solely focusing on Avellemy, the DFM MPS sister company to Ascot Lloyd.
The appointment will include responsibility for chairing quarterly investment meetings, which review all areas of Ascot Lloyd’s broad Centralised Investment Proposition.
The investment committee already comprises Peter Dalgliesh, Parmenion, PIM managing director; Simon Brett, PIM director and chief investment officer; Harry Garrett, PIM investment manager; Tony Yousefian, Albemarle Street Partners investment manager; and Mr Lloyd.
The appointment of another independent chairman will ensure the continued oversight of the group and reaffirms the quality and strength of Avellemy’s proposition which has now £500m of assets under management.