Sanlam Private Wealth, a leading provider of investment and wealth management services and part of the $50bn Sanlam Group, announces the appointment of Jonathan Polin as its UK Chief Executive, with effect from 1 November. His role will be to drive the business to the next level, growing the Sanlam brand and building its position as a leading wealth manager in the UK.
Jonathan has more than 20 years’ experience in the investment and wealth management industry and significant knowledge of the demands and challenges of the UK market. His most recent role was with Ashcourt Rowan Plc as Group Chief Executive, where he transformed the business from a loss making entity with a market cap of £22 million to a business worth £129 million. Prior to joining Ashcourt Rowan, he held a number of executive roles with Aberdeen Asset Management, Ignis Asset Management and HSBC.
Sanlam Private Wealth’s incumbent Chief Executive, Craig Massey, will return to South Africa as Branch Operations Director and Head of Stockbroking. His remit in the UK was to merge the discretionary portfolio manager Principal Investment Management and the Merchant Securities businesses under the Sanlam brand and increase the firm’s regional footprint in the UK.
Daniël Kriel, Chairman of Sanlam Private Wealth UK, said: “Craig Massey has done a sterling job in successfully merging the former Principal Investment Management and Merchant Securities businesses into Sanlam Private Wealth. Over the past three years he has established a values-based business, focussed firmly on its clients and established a solid base from which to grow the business exponentially.
“Craig’s return to South Africa created an opportunity in the UK to appoint a local leader with an innate knowledge and understanding of the needs of our UK clients, as well as the changing demands and challenges of distribution channels.
“I am excited about Jonathan joining our team, and with his vast experience of the UK market and deep knowledge of the wealth management industry, he will make a huge contribution to the growth and success of our local business, as well as our broader operations as part of the global wealth management leadership team. We believe he has what it takes to drive our business to the next level, building it into a leading wealth management firm in the UK, to the benefit of clients and stakeholders.”
Jonathan Polin, the new Chief Executive added: “This is an exciting time in the development of Sanlam Private Wealth in the UK. I am delighted to be able to lead a business that has achieved so much but also has such huge potential to grow the Sanlam brand and proposition in the UK. We will be looking to leverage off the huge resources the global group has and the success of the wealth division in South Africa, Australia and Switzerland.
“It will be an honour to lead the business and I am excited by the opportunity and the prospect of working with the team to develop leading client propositions and create material shareholder value.”
