Frontier Advisors has announced a series of promotions and reshuffles in its various research teams in response to changing client interests and the firm’s five-year strategy.
The redesign includes adding the investment governance and responsible investment service areas to the sector research program, headed up by Paul Newfield.
Andrew Polson, Frontier chief executive, said: “There’s no doubt that both responsible investment and enhanced governance in investing are key areas of focus for asset owners.
“We think bringing our dedicated teams already working with clients in these areas directly into our research program will deliver further synergies and further integrate those insights and practices.”
Newfield will also oversee the real assets, defensives and alternatives, equities and private markets research teams.
Andrew Kemp, current head of defensive assets and private markets, will take on the new role of deputy director of research to support Newfield.
Head of bonds, currency and derivatives, Iain McMahon, will become the head of defensives and alternatives.
Sarah Cornelius has been promoted to head of investment governance after being the deputy head in the same division, while Marie Cardaci, senior consultant, will transition into the deputy head of responsible investment role.
“At the same time, we’re going to merge our teams researching in the alternatives and broader defensive classes to get a better holistic result with a bigger single team looking at a complete range of aligned investment ideas outside of the more traditional equities and real assets areas,” Polson explained.
Consequently, Michiel Swaak, Frontier’s head of alternatives, will depart from the firm.
According to the CEO, the suite of changes represent the company’s five-year strategy alongside a change in client interests.
Frontier will also begin searching for new talents to expand its pool of analysts, research and client consulting teams in 2024.
“Many of our leaders in the business have grown from entry level roles with Frontier, and that’s been a hallmark of our business for almost three decades now,” Polson remarked.
“To help facilitate the introduction of new talent to Frontier, and to provide a clearer career path for our junior staff, we’ll be introducing an entry level pool of investment and data analysts to support all our teams and add greater dimension and challenge to our associate level staff by taking on some of their less-intensive work.”
