Directors

John Morton - Chief Executive and Investment Director

John started his City career in November 1977 when he joined Hill Samuel Investment Management Limited. His experience of private client fund management commenced in March 1979 when he left Hill Samuel and became an assistant to the private client director of Schlesinger Investment Management Service Limited, which was acquired by Britannia in 1980. Shortly after, in 1982, he was involved in the establishment of Fraser Henderson Limited, which was a new investment management company established to cater for affluent private clients. Fraser Henderson Limited was acquired by Baltic which is when John assumed responsibility for managing institutional funds. He was responsible for the management of a global equity unit trust and in January 1987 launched a European fund achieving top quartile performance over the five years to July 1992.

Following the acquisition of Baltic by Abtrust in 1987 John joined Abtrust (now Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited) and was made a director of Abtrust Fund Managers Limited the same year. In 1990, he was responsible for the launch of Abtrust New European Investment Trust Plc, which was listed on the London Stock Exchange and raised over £40 million primarily for investment into the emerging markets of continental europe.

In July1994 John left Abtrust and joined Brachers Solicitors to establish an asset management function, which grew to manage over £50 million before being demerged in May 2000 into the Ashcourt Group of which John is the Chief Executive. Since the creation of the Ashcourt Group, group funds under management have grown to in excess of £425 million and the group, incorporating and number of other subsidiary companies, now employs over 75 members of staff (statistics are correct as at 19 April 2004).

Pam Beith - Director

Pam started her career in the Financial Services sector in 1978 at Commercial Union Life Assurance Company where she stayed for 8 years. Her initial role was based within the Life and Pensions Centre where she spent 5 years involved in the administering of Pension schemes. Pam relocated south with the company to Woking, where she took up a role as Branch Life Clerk.

Keen to expand to other sectors of the industry Pam progressed to the position of Investment Assistant with a local IFA / Investment Adviser, A J Buckley Asset Management Ltd (AJBAM) in October 1986. The client base of AJBAM was very concentrated in South Africa. Keen to progress through the firm Pam over the next three and a half years strove to expand her knowledge in the investment arena and quickly became involved in not only supporting the existing client base, but became very involved in the generation of new business opportunities and also investment research, and by 1992 was making independent decisions in the clients’ portfolios.

In November 1998 Pam was approached by Lawrence Graham Solicitors, and offered a role, which she took up in January 1999, as Investment Director for a new venture Lawrence Graham Investment Management Services (LGIMS) taking up responsibility for collective investments (UK and offshore) and also provision of advice for international investments in portfolios. Bringing a client following from her previous employer, together with generating new business from the partners of the firms at Lawrence Graham, she played a big part in the company’s aim (which was achieved) of growing funds under management to £75 million by the end of the first year.

On 1st May 2002 LGIMS merged with Ashcourt Asset Management and Pam was appointed a Divisional Director together with the role of Head of Collective Investments. Pam is responsible for the selection and monitoring of all collective funds.

Peter Hearn - Director

Peter started his City career in September 1974 when he joined Vanburgh Life where he was responsible for the development of business in the South East of England. Peter joined Target Group Plc in February 1981 before joining GMP Financial Management Ltd, a subsidiary of Globe Investment Trust Plc, in May 1989 to establish a new division providing collective management services to private clients.

In January 1991 he joined Brewin Dolphin & Co. Ltd as a director responsible for the provision of collective investment services to both private clients and professional connections. Whilst he was at Brewin Dolphin the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1994.

In September 1995 Peter joined Branston & Gothand as Head of Financial Services. His responsibilities included the company’s activities within the private client and professional marketplace.

Jock Campbell - Director

Jock started his investment career in January 1986 by joining Sun Alliance as a Trainee Consultant. After a period of intensive training he gained considerable experience in the fields of pensions, life assurance and unit trust investments. He then joined the solicitors firm of Kitsons based in Torquay as an Investment Advisor and Manager, Compliance Officer and also as a Trust Administrator in October 1986.

Jock then moved to the legal firm of Blake Lapthorn Linnell as an Investment Manager and Trust Administrator. He soon began his studies for the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate, which he successfully acquired. He became an associate of the Institute of Financial Planners, member of the Society of Financial Advisors and also of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. During his period at Blake Lapthorn Linnell and prior to the de-merger into Ashcourt Asset Management he acquired a very wide experience of portfolio management for a large number of clients and trusts. The merger into Ashcourt Asset Management took place in May 2001 and he was subsequently appointed a Divisional Director.

Roderick Gentry MSI - Director

Rod joined Ashcourt following the acquisition of DMH in November 2002. Previously Rod had joined DMH in 1990 from a division of American Express where he was providing investment advice to high net worth clients. He assumed overall responsibility for the investment management at DMH in 1991 and was appointed Head of Investment Business in the same year. Following the hive off of the business in 2001, Rod became Chief Executive of the newly formed company.

In 1995, Rod became one of a handful of advisers to be authorised by the Law Society as a Qualified Person in all three of its Financial Services modules, Securities & Portfolio Management, Packaged Products and Specialist Pensions. During the period 1994 to 2000, he was one of seven industry professionals countrywide appointed as an Assessor to the Law Society, assisting with the introduction and subsequent implementation of new competence qualifications. Rod is currently a Director of the Association of Solicitor Investment Managers.

David Hanrahan - Director

David originally commenced his career with a City firm of Chartered Accountants as a tax accountant, a role he later pursued at Standard Chartered Bank, progressing to the position of Senior Tax Manager.

In 1985 whilst still with Standard Chartered Bank, David started to specialise in tax and estate planning and from this he qualified as a fund manager looking after both advisory and discretionary clients, onshore and offshore.

In 1990 David moved back into the accountancy profession, this time, as Investment Manager for Ernst & Young in London. This role involved advising the firm on investment issues, preparing "buy lists" for the financial services arm and chairing the investment committee.

In 1993 David moved from accountancy to join a law firm as Head of Financial Services. This led to David setting up and running a discretionary investment management service for Hart Brown who were the largest Surrey based firm of solicitors. Whilst at Hart Brown, David was approached to join international accountants RSM Robson Rhodes in London, once again, as Head of Financial Services. This was a challenging role and saw David’s first successes in print when he wrote the investment chapters for the 15th edition of Tolley’s Personal Financial Planning Manual and had various articles published on tax and investment related topics.

In 2000 David moved back into the legal profession as Investment Director for Lawrence Graham in London. Following the merger with Ashcourt Asset Management Limited in May 2002, David is now a Director with responsibilities for a mixed portfolio of private clients, trusts and charities.

Ashcourt Asset Management Limited

Registered Office: 11 Tower View, Kings Hill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4UN. Registered in England and Wales with company number 3691998