Aviva Investors has poached Carl Tomlin from Columbia Threadneedle to join its UK wholesale team as business development director.
In the new role, Mr Tomlin will be responsible for looking after key intermediaries in South West England.
The appointment comes as Aviva Investors pushes to expand its reputation as a provider of asset-allocation products.
The firm has been cutting some investment staff but is shifting focus towards its multi-asset, absolute return Aims products.
Prior to joining Aviva Investors, Mr Tomlin spent more than six years at Columbia Threadneedle Investments as a regional manager, where he focused on relationships with advisers and discretionary fund managers, also in the South West.
He previously worked as a fund promotion consultant for Zurich and a fund relationship executive for Axa.
Jeremy Leadsom, head of UK wholesale at Aviva Investors, said: “Carl is well respected among intermediaries in the South West and his experience in building strong relationships will be instrumental in helping meet the ambitions of our business.”
The hire follows the January recruitment of former Standard Life director David Clayton as Aviva Investors’ chief financial officer, following the departure of Clifford Abrahams, as well as the hire of Mike Craston as global head of business development.
