Investec answers UK retail question with Brazier hire

Investec Asset Management's hire of Threadneedle UK equity head Simon Brazier (pictured) and team, revealed by Investment Week last Wednesday, has transformed the company's UK retail offering overnight.

Brazier, manager Blake Hutchins (for whom Investec will launch a UK equity income fund), analysts Ben Needham and Anna Farmbrough and product specialist Neil Finlay will join Investec this November. The arrivals are something of a coup for a group which, although it is a top 20 player in the UK retail fund management space, does not have as many high-profile managers as one may think. Big name managers may not necessarily product returns, but name recognition has always been crucial in the retail space.  A look at inflows into the group's fund range over the past 12 months, for exampl...