AXA IM appoints Nigel Yates to manage UK Growth fund and develop sustainable offering

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) has announced the appointment of Nigel Yates as Portfolio Manager, strengthening the AXA IM Framlington UK equities team, effective 11 January 2021.

Based in London, Nigel will be responsible for managing the AXA Framlington UK Growth fund, replacing Jamie Hooper, who will be leaving the company at the end of the year to pursue other interests outside financial services.

His role will include supporting Chris St John in the management of the AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities fund and the offshore AXA WF Framlington UK fund. He will also work to further develop AXA IM’s range of sustainable funds, which will expand in 2021 and beyond. Nigel will report to Linden Thomson, Co-Head Global Equities Framlington.

Prior to joining AXA IM, Nigel worked at NFU Mutual, the UK registered mutual insurance firm, where he began his career in 2001. Most recently he was managing three UK client portfolios totalling £2 billion in assets (UK Growth, UK Stakeholder Pension & UK Flexibond). Nigel is currently Citywire AA-rated following strong performance across all three funds and was recently shortlisted by both Citywire and Investment Week for Fund Manager of the Year in the All Companies category.

Linden Thomson, Co-Head Global Equities Framlington, said: “We believe there is a significant opportunity in the UK given current valuations, paired with increasing economic optimism. Nigel’s appointment bolsters our team, and given his prior experience is well positioned to hit the ground running next year. We are also excited about expanding our sustainable range of funds in the UK, and Nigel will be a key figure in this development.”

Nigel Yates, Portfolio Manager, commenting on his appointment said: “I am excited to join the UK equity team at AXA IM. They have an illustrious track record, and have an exciting platform to explore new themes and investment ideas. I can’t wait to get started.”