Former U.S. equity fund manager Simon Melluish has returned to Gartmore to take up a newly created product specialist role within the firm’s global equity team. Melluish accumulated 18 years’ investment experience before he quit the industry in November 2004 to set up his own business. He will rejoin Gartmore on 4 September.
In his new role Melluish will orchestrate the sales and marketing of the 140 million Gartmore Global Focus OEIC and the $193 million (101 million) Gartmore Sicav Global Focus fund. Both funds are managed by Gartmore head of global equities Neil Rogan, who is A-rated by Citywire. Melluish will also manage the promotion of Gartmore’s market neutral Global hedge fund, and use his fund manager experience to provide analytical support for the global equities team.
Gartmore said the global product specialist role was originally meant to be part time on the back of a surge in interest in the products within the division. However, because of continued strong demand for these products across all businesses the group has opted to make the position permanent.
“Investor interest in our global equities product range has continued to gain momentum across all markets,” says Rogan. “Simon’s appointment is therefore a very important one as it will help us in our strive to enhance our market share in the UK and Europe as a leading Global Equities product provider in the European retail, institutional and global hedge fund sectors.”
Melluish joined Gartmore in 1995 after stints with Singer & Friedlander and Hendersons. In 2000 he was promoted to head of US equities at Gartmore.
In 2001 Gartmore combined its domestic US equities proposition with that of its US-based sister company at the time, Gartmore Global Investments. This resulted in Melluish and his team moving to Philadelphia where he was head of the combined US equity teams. From his US-based office he managed the Gartmore US Growth fund and the Gartmore US Sicav up to point of his departure.
Gartmore says that Melluish has not been appointed with the view of returning to fund management.