Rob Burdett, head of Columbia Threadneedle Multi-Manager, has made the decision to leave Columbia Threadneedle Investments in April 2024.
Following this, Paul Green has been appointed to lead the CT Multi-Manager team which manages the Navigator and Lifestyle funds. Paul is a long-standing member of the portfolio management team for these funds and will continue to work alongside Adam Norris and Anthony Willis to manage both ranges. Paul and Anthony joined the firm with Rob nearly 17 years ago and have been core members of the team since that time.
Rob Burdett has been head of the UK retail funds’ multi-manager investment team since 2007 and his decision to leave Columbia Threadneedle has led to a review of the current standalone CT Multi-Manager team and consideration of how its clients can benefit from the broader expertise of Columbia Threadneedle Investments.
Columbia Threadneedle has had a strategic focus on integrating its various asset allocation capabilities over the past two years, bringing together specialist solutions, portfolio construction and multi asset expertise into a single EMEA Asset Allocation team. At the same time, it has consolidated a number of local multi-manager teams into a single, globally connected Multi-Manager Solutions team, with manager selection research analysts based in the UK, Netherlands and the US.
From 1 April 2024, Paul Green, Anthony Willis and Adam Norris will transition to Columbia Threadneedle’s EMEA Asset Allocation team, led by Paul Niven. Together Paul, Anthony and Adam have more than 66 years’ industry experience. The portfolios will continue to be managed with the same investment objectives and policies, but with the ability to draw on the wider portfolio construction and asset allocation expertise of the more than 25 investment professionals in the team.
Catherine Sathi, another long-standing member of the team, will become part of the Columbia Threadneedle Multi-Manager Solutions team under David Weiss. This 20 strong specialist team has an average of 19 years’ experience and is responsible for managing over $79bn of invested assets. As part of this team, Catherine will continue to contribute to manager research for the Navigator and Lifestyle funds, as well as global manager selection.
As a result of these changes multi-manager portfolio managers Kelly Prior and Scott Spencer are also leaving the firm.
Paul Green commented: “These changes will allow the Navigator and Lifestyle funds to benefit more effectively from Columbia Threadneedle’s significant resources in multi-asset portfolio management and manager selection. However, the funds will retain their DNA in active fund selection, using both on the desk research as well as the expertise from the Columbia Threadneedle Multi-Manager Solutions research team. The funds will continue to seek “off the radar” funds with a flexibility to use boutique asset managers and newly discovered fund management talent.”
Rob Burdett said: “I’ve really enjoyed working with my team and colleagues in our goal to deliver performance and service to clients over the past 17 years, and beyond. We have achieved much during this time, and I want to thank the team for all they have done and wish them all future success, as I look to evaluate any future opportunities within the industry.”
Richard Watts, CIO, EMEA at Columbia Threadneedle Investments added: “Columbia Threadneedle has extensive multi-asset, asset allocation and manager selection experience and expertise for a broad range of clients, which we have been consolidating over the past two years. Transitioning the Navigator and Lifestyle funds to these teams will provide additional resources for the benefit of our clients invested in them.
“Rob, Kelly and Scott have been important members of our investment team for many years and leave a strong legacy of an established and successful multi-manager range of funds in the UK retail market, and we thank them for their many contributions to our business and our clients.”
