Standard Life and Aberdeen disclose investment management committee line-up

Days after securing overwhelming shareholder backing for their £11 billion merger, Standard Life and Aberdeen Asset Management have announced the makeup of the combined firm’s investment management committee.

The two firms have revealed that Standard Life’s chief investment officer Rod Paris has been appointed as chair of the IMC of ‘Standard Life Aberdeen’, which will hold “broad leadership responsibility for asset classes”.

The investment management committee’s members are expected to oversee the investment process, performance, capabilities and talent within their assigned asset classes. They are also tasked with setting the investment culture, the investment governance and risk framework across the business.

Keith Skeoch and Martin Gilbert, co-CEOs of the combined business, will regularly attend IMC meetings, as well as Standard Life trio global COO investments Alan Coutts, office of the CIO Ginny Richardson and global head of stewardship and ESG investing Euan Stirling.

The IMC will consist of the following:

Mr Paris said: “To create a world-class investment company, the investment team must be at the heart of our business. The combined IMC will play a vital role in achieving this. The combined businesses have strong, complementary investment capabilities that will deliver greater investment insight and more choice for clients and customers.

“Together we will be broader and more diverse, respecting different investment philosophies and processes, incorporating the best talent and capabilities from both firms. By combining our capabilities across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and solutions, real estate, private markets and hedge funds, we are creating a world-class investment company, with over 1,000 investment professionals and a truly global perspective.”

The proposed merger is set to complete on 14 August 2017, subject to regulatory approval.