CityWire – Premier Asset Management has hired former Thames River hedge fund specialist Chris Wright to take control of the Premier Dividend Fund from Paul Branigan.
Branigan, who also manages an absolute return growth mandate and is chief investment officer of Premier, is handing over to Wright as he wishes to concentrate on his other duties at the group.
Wright, who managed a number of hedge funds for Thames River, joins Premier on 1 September.
Wright is expected to restructure the Dividend Fund when he arrives, which could see it employ a similar strategy to the one used by the Schroder Income Maximiser Acc fund.
Managing director of sales and marketing, Simon Weldon, said: ‘Chris brings a lot of pan European equity experience with him and has been on both sides of the buy-sell fence so we are confident he will make an excellent addition to the team.
