Biographies

Simon Brazier is Threadneedle’s Co-Head of UK Equities with responsibility for all non-income UK equity products. He began his career at Schroders in 1998 and, since 2002, he was a member of the Schroder UK Specialist Equity team with responsibility for running a variety of institutional mandates as well as the Schroder UK Equity Fund.  Simon holds a BA (Hons) in Economics with French from Durham University and also studied at the University of Aix-Marseille.

Mark Burgess joined Threadneedle in November 2010 and will be taking over as the company’s Chief Investment Officer in January 2011.  In this role, he will be responsible for continuing Threadneedle’s strong performance track record across all asset classes.  He will also chair the company’s Asset Allocation Committee and sit on the Executive Board.  Prior to joining Threadneedle, Mark was Head of Equities at Legal & General Investment management, where he developed the company’s strategy of focusing on high alpha, high conviction investing.  This strategy led to a turnaround in investment performance and the retail funds winning a number of awards.  He also oversaw the introduction of a number of long/short hedge funds and UCITS III strategies.  Before joining LGIM, Mark held senior roles at Morgan Grenfell Asset Management and Deutsche Asset Management.  He gained a degree in Economics and Philosophy from Keele University and is an associate of the Institute of Investment Management and Research.

Jim Cielinski joined Threadneedle in 2010 as Head of Fixed Income.  In this role he is responsible for the overall management of the fixed income business, including investment process, product development and investment strategy.  He is also a key participant in Threadneedle’s asset allocation process.  Prior to joining Threadneedle Jim spent 12 years at Goldman Sachs, leaving as Head of Global Credit – Investment Grade.  He has also held senior investment roles at Utah Retirement Systems and Brown Brothers Harriman.  Jim graduated from the University of Utah in 1983 with a BSc in Finance and gained an MBA from New York University in 1988.  He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the UK Society of Securities Analysts.

William Davies joined Threadneedle at inception in 1994 and is Head of European Equities.  He manages the Threadneedle European Fund, the Zurich Pension Managed Fund (Europe), the Zurich Life Fund (Europe), the Zurich Life Managed Fund (Europe) and the Allied Dunbar International Europe Fund.  He is also Deputy Fund Manager for the Threadneedle Pan European Equity Dividend Fund and the Threadneedle European Select Fund.  Prior to Threadneedle’s inception, William worked for Eagle Star Investments Ltd, which subsequently became part of Threadneedle.  He has also worked for Hambros Bank as a European Investment Manager. William graduated from Exeter University with a BA (Hons) in Economics.

David Donora joined Threadneedle in 2008 as a fund manager specialising in commodities.  His principal responsibilities are to establish Threadneedle’s capabilities in this asset class and to develop a suitable product range to complement the company’s equity, bond and property offerings.  David has more than 25 years’ investing experience encompassing commodity and derivative-based roles for companies including UBS, CIBC and Man Financial, where he worked as Head of Structured OTC Derivatives prior to joining Threadneedle.

David Dudding, CFA joined Threadneedle in 1999 as an analyst. He manages the Threadneedle European Select Fund and the Threadneedle European Smaller Companies Fund.  David previously worked for John Swire and Sons in Hong Kong and for Investors Chronicle as a financial journalist.  He holds a Modern History degree and a European Politics Masters degree from Oxford University.  He is also a member of the CFA Institute and the UK Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP).

Quentin Fitzsimmons is an Executive Director and Head of Government Bonds & Foreign Exchange at Threadneedle. He has significant experience and a strong track record in managing third party institutional fixed income client mandates for over 10 years, encompassing the full range of economic and market conditions.  Quentin began his career in 1991 at Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, where he progressed to senior investment analyst before moving to the Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1994 as senior portfolio manager.  He then joined F&C (formerly Foreign & Colonial) Investment Management in 1999 and became director of fixed interest (UK bonds) before joining Threadneedle in September 2003.  Today, Quentin is responsible for managing a variety of institutional and retail fixed income portfolios and has been a key contributor to the successful development of Threadneedle’s absolute return franchise, leading the team and playing a pivotal role in gathering assets.  He is also a member of the firm’s Asset Allocation Committee and chairs the monthly Economic Background meeting.  As such, his is one of the significant voices that shapes Threadneedle’s overall investment thinking and strategy.  Quentin graduated in 1989 from the University of Bristol with a first class honours degree in economics and economic history.  He is also a Member of the Society of Business Economists and has gained professional investment qualifications via the IIMR.

Campbell Fleming joined Threadneedle as Head of Distribution in 2009.  In this role he is responsible for directing the company’s global sales, marketing and product development efforts and is also a member of the Executive Committee.  Prior to joining Threadneedle, Campbell was Managing Director of JP Morgan Asset Management’s UK business.  He had been with the group for 12 years, first joining Robert Fleming Asset Management in 1997 and staying with the firm through a period of significant corporate activity.  He has also held a variety of regulatory and legal roles in the UK and Australia.  Campbell gained a Diploma in Law at the Barristers & Solicitors Admission Board in conjunction with the University of Sydney Law School in 1991.  He has also been admitted to the Supreme Courts of England & Wales and New South Wales and is a member of the Institute of Directors.

Leigh Harrison is Threadneedle’s Head of Equities and has overall responsibility for the management and performance of the company’s equity products.  He is Co-Head of UK Equities with Simon Brazier, and is responsible for the UK equity income products. He manages the Threadneedle UK Equity Alpha Income Fund and the Threadneedle UK Equity Income Fund.  Prior to joining Threadneedle, Leigh was a director and senior portfolio manager for UK equities at Credit Suisse Asset Management, where he built an outstanding reputation for UK equity income products.  He has also held the positions of associate director at Rowan Dartington and director at Hill Samuel Investment Management, where he focused on UK smaller company funds.  Leigh holds a BA (Hons) from Nottingham University and an MSc from University College, London.  He is also a Member of the Securities Institute.

Andrew Holliman joined Threadneedle in 2004 and manages the Threadneedle American Fund.  Under his management, the fund has built a strong record of consistent outperformance through a wide variety of market conditions.  Andrew also manages a number of global equity portfolios including the Threadneedle (Lux) World Equities Fund and the Threadneedle Global Extended Alpha Fund.  He began his career at Baillie Gifford, initially as an Investment Analyst before progressing to an Investment Manager.  He obtained an excellent reputation for the management of Baillie Gifford’s American Fund, for which he was the named manager from September 2000 until July 2003.  The Baillie Gifford American Fund also won the Investment Week American Fund of the Year award in 2003.  Andrew graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1997 with a First Class BCom (Hons) degree in Business Studies.  In 2000, he obtained an MSc in Investment Analysis from the University of Stirling.  He is also a CFA charterholder.

Don Jordison is the Managing Director of Threadneedle Property Investments - the UK property investment arm of Threadneedle.  He is in charge of the Strategic Property Unit Trust (since 2006) and the Threadneedle Property Unit Trust (since 1998).  He also manages the Threadneedle UK Property Trust, the Threadneedle European Property Fund, the Threadneedle Capital and Income Fund and the Zurich Assurance Ltd AP Property Fund.  Don began his career in 1982 with Prudential.  He joined Allied Dunbar Property Funds  as a trainee property manager in 1984 and became an associate member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  In 1991 he was promoted to director responsible for the Zurich Assurance Ltd AL Property Fund.  Don graduated in 1984 with a first class honours degree in Urban Estates Surveying from Nottingham Trent University.  In 1988 he obtained an MBA from City University London.

Jeremy Podger joined Threadneedle in 2003.  He manages the Threadneedle Global Select and Threadneedle Latin America Funds and is also deputy fund manager for a number of other global equity funds.  Jeremy also manages the Global Equity Team and is responsible for liaising with the European team.  Jeremy has managed global equity funds for the past 18 years, regularly appearing in Citywire rankings and receiving industry performance awards.  He started his career in 1987 as a Pan European fund manager for the Saudi International Bank.  He has also worked for Mirage Resources as a global fund manager and Investec Asset Management where he managed high performance global funds over his seven year tenure and was also Head of Institutional Continental European Funds.  Jeremy has a BA in Philosophy from Cambridge University and an MBA from the London Business School. He is also an associate member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals (UKSIP).

Stephen Thornber is a global equity fund manager.  He manages the Threadneedle (ICVC) Global Equity Income Fund, two mutual funds and a local authority pension scheme.  He also heads the global oil sector research team.  Stephen started his career at Touche Remnant and has also worked for Eagle Star Investment Managers , Aberdeen Fund Managers and the Kuwait Investment Office.  He graduated with an honours degree in business & finance from Plymouth Polytechnic. He is an associate member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals.

Cormac Weldon head of US equities at Threadneedle.  Cormac started his career with KPMG in 1987.  He then worked as an analyst for Provident Mutual and as a fund manager for the British Gas Pension Fund.  With Threadneedle since 1997, Cormac has a BA in accounting & finance from Dublin City University.  He is also an associate member of the UK Society of Investment Professionals and a CFA Charterholder.

Barrie Whitman joined Threadneedle in 1999 as Head of High Yield.  He manages the Threadneedle High Yield Bond Fund, the Threadneedle Strategic Bond Fund and a number of institutional high yield bond mandates.  Barrie is also lead manager of the Threadneedle Credit Opportunities Fund.  He began his investment career in 1987 at United Bank of Kuwait as a Credit Analyst Specialising in High Yield Bond Investment.  In 1990 he became a High Yield Fund Manager and, in 1996, CIO for High Yield Investments.  He then moved to Standard Bank London in 1997 as Head of European High Yield and Distressed Debt.  Barrie graduated in 1982 with a BSc in Economics and Accounting from Hull University and qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1986.  He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in England and Wales.