David Thompson, a veteran senior investment manager at Investec, has exited the firm after 18 years to join Oberon Investments, a wealth management firm which targets the “middle and upper” part of the market.
Oberon is listed on the Aquis Stock Exchange, and operates financial planning, investment management and asset management divisions.
Its co-founder and chief executive is Simon McGivern, a former fund manager at Panmure Gordon who also held a series of non financial services roles.
The financial advice business it owns operates under the name Smythe House.
It manages one fund for an external financial advice firm, Margetts
Thompson spent 18 years at Investec, latterly as a senior investment manager, and was running £180mn of client money at the time of his departure.
His hire comes alongside that of two other wealth managers who will soon join. Those two will be bringing clients with them from their previous firm.
The shareholders in the Oberon business are funds managed by Unicorn Asset Management, funds managed by Gresham House, and funds operated by Octopus.
Oberon does operate model portfolios for clients, but McGivern told FT Adviser: “We prefer the bespoke portfolio management approach, our clients are people that prefer the individual service. We don’t have a minimum investment amount a client must have right now, but we are focused on the middle and upper end of the market. We also hope to run more funds in future.”
Of the hiring of Thompson he said: “It is exciting to welcome David and our new wealth planning team to the group. Oberon continues to attract investment professionals of a high calibre and experience and is increasingly seen as an attractive home for professionals looking to provide a personal service for their clients.”
david.thorpe@ft.com
