The former head of research at Brewin Dolphin has joined A&J Wealth Management as the company sets its sights on managing £1bn of assets in the next five years.
Matthew Butcher, who was most recently chief executive at boutique investment manager Albermarle Street Partners, has joined the wealth management business as head of client proposition and will chair its investment committee.
A&J is pursuing plans to manage £1bn assets under management by 2025, a strategy which its corporate development director, Adam Hughes, said the company was on track to achieve despite the coronavirus crisis.
Mr Hughes said: “To entice someone of Matt’s ability and track record to A&J certainly suggests we are doing something right.
"He joins at a very exciting time when we have expanded our DFM services, which will take group funds under management to circa £500m.
"Matt’s credentials really bolster our existing centralised investment proposition and his past experience will be invaluable in executing our strategy."
Mr Hughes, who was previously at Neptune Investment Management between 2005-2015, joined A&J in July last year.
He told FTAdviser the advice firm had not lost any of its 1300 clients throughout the crisis and had enjoyed "reasonable organic growth" from referrals in recent years.
A&J has completed five acquisitions in the last seven years as it moves to more than double its assets under management.
As part of its growth plans the company is in the process of expanding its centralised investment proposition to smaller IFAs in the market, which includes seven risk-rated models run by A&J.
Gareth Jones, founder and managing director of A&J, said: "I set a corporate strategy to grow funds under management and expand our client investment offering within the advisory and discretionary fund management arena.
"The existing team have successfully over the last decade contributed to the growth of the group and successful migration of 5 external acquisitions along with organic growth.
"The strengthening of our board of directors and appointment of Adam was the first part of the strategy to help achieve the growth targets for the group."
A&J manages investment and pension portfolios ranging in size from £100,000 to in more than £10m and also advises on protection and tax and estate planning.
rachel.mortimer@ft.com
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