CompaniesJul 20 2016

Sanlam boss joins CoInvestor board

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Sanlam boss joins CoInvestor board

Sanlam’s chief executive Jonathan Polin has been taken on as a member of CoInvestor’s advisory board, as the alternatives platform makes a raft of changes to its management team.

Mr Polin, who was an early stage investor in the company, will work closely with financial advisers as the platform looks to take on clients, who the company said are increasingly looking for higher risk and more complex investments.

CoInvestor, which was launched in December last year, also announced today (20 July) that Sam Plumptre has been appointed as chief executive, supporting the platform’s founder Charles Owen in managing the business.

Mr Plumptre, who is an existing board member, previously worked as a fund manager at Livingbridge and in investment banking for Société Générale and Evolution Securities.

Meanwhile, Hanover Investments founding partner Matthew Peacock has joined CoInvestor as non-executive chairman.

The alternative assets platform hopes the senior appointments to its board will help the business through its early-stage growth, particularly as it hopes to overhaul the alternative asset investment industry in the UK.

Mr Owen said the fresh hires mean the platform can evolve to benefit fund managers, financial advisers and private investors.

Mr Polin will provide a potential distribution channel for the platform from all the advisers who currently deal with Sanlam. Tony Catt

CoInvestor has also just completed a recent funding round with new shareholders, including two corporate investors, one of which is FinnCap.

The platform, which has attracted the likes of Oxford Capital, MMC Ventures and Chelverton Asset Management, allows private investors to build their own portfolio by investing alongside experienced fund managers on a deal-by-deal basis.

Mr Peacock said: “There is a genuine need for a solution like this within the traditional investment landscape which has undergone significant change since 2008.

“I look forward to guiding the business through rapid growth in our bid to establish a ‘new normal’ way of investing.”

Tony Catt, IFA and compliance officer at Anthony Catt Limited, was confident Mr Polin will provide investment expertise to the new platform.

“More importantly to Colnvestor, he will provide a potential distribution channel for the platform from all the advisers who currently deal with Sanlam.

“This should be a good opportunity for growth of the platform.”

katherine.denham@ft.com