Ignis chief executive Samuel to exit next week

Ignis Asset Management chief executive Chris Samuel is to exit the business next week when the takeover by Standard Life Investments completes, Investment Week understands.

Standard Life Investments agreed the £390m takeover in March, stating at the time the takeover should complete by the end of the second quarter. An official announcement is expected shortly, but Investment Week can reveal Samuel (pictured) has already informed staff he will depart at the start of next week, providing the takeover completes as planned. Samuel, who became chief executive in 2009, oversaw a complete overhaul of Ignis' business strategy during his time in charge. In part, that involved abandoning the joint ventures on which his predecessor had focused, in order to allo...