Andrew Ross
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
May 2019; Chairman 29 April 2020
Career and background
Previously chief executive of Cazenove Capital Management which, in 2013, was acquired by Schroders, where he became global head of Wealth Management until 2019. Prior to this, chief executive of HSBC Asset Management (Europe) Limited and managing director of James Capel Investment Management.
Skills and expertise
Andrew has substantial experience in senior leadership roles as CEO and chairman in investment management and wealth management businesses. He has overseen three different multimanager businesses and under his tenure the businesses he led significantly grew and prospered.
External appointments
Non-executive director at Polar Capital Holdings plc and Cadogan Settled Estates.
Board committees
- Remuneration and Nominations Committee
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited
Andrew Bell
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
February 2010
Career and background
Previously Head of Research at Rensburg Sheppards and an equity strategist and Co-Head of the Investment Trusts team at BZW and CSFB. Prior to the City, he worked for Shell in Oman, leaving to take a Sloan Fellowship at the London Business School.
Skills and expertise
Andrew’s roles prior to joining Witan have given him valuable experience of economic and geopolitical events and how they influence equity markets, along with considerable knowledge and experience of the investment trust sector.
External appointments
Chairman of The Diverse Income Trust plc.
Board committee
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited
Rachel Beagles
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
July 2020
Career and background
Previously a managing director and co-head of pan-European banks equity research and sales at Deutsche Bank. Since 2003 she has worked as a non-executive director in the investment company, asset management, charity and social housing sectors. She was Chair of the Association of Investment Companies from 2018 to 2021.
Skills and expertise
Rachel has extensive knowledge and understanding of the equity markets from her experience in research and sales. She is an experienced non-executive director of investment trusts.
External appointments
Non-executive director of The Mercantile Investment Trust plc
Board committees
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited.
- Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
Shauna Bevan
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
February 2023
Career and background
Head of Investment Advisory at RiverPeak Wealth Limited where she is responsible for fund research and portfolio construction. She was previously Co-Head of Collectives Research at Charles Stanley, having started her career in wealth management at Merrill Lynch.
Skills and expertise
Shauna has over twenty years of investment experience across multiple asset classes with particular expertise in third-party fund research and meeting the needs of retail investors.
External appointments
Head of Investment Advisory at RiverPeak Wealth and a non-executive director of CT Global Managed Portfolio Trust PLC.
Board committees
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited.
Jack Perry
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
January 2017
Career and background
Previously chief executive of Scottish Enterprise and a former Managing Partner and Regional Industry Leader of Ernst & Young LLP. Served on the boards of FTSE 250 and other public and private companies and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Skills and expertise
Jack is chairman of two other listed investment companies and has developed an understanding of the needs of all stakeholders. His experience as a senior audit partner and subsequently in service on numerous audit committees has enabled him to be an effective Audit & Risk Committee Chairman.
External appointments
Chairman of European Assets Trust PLC and ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Limited.
Board committees
- Chairman of the Audit & Risk Committee
Ben Rogoff
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
October 2016
Career and background
Lead manager of Polar Capital Technology Trust plc since 2006 and a fund manager of Polar Capital Global Technology Fund and Polar Capital Automation and Artificial Intelligence Fund. He has been a technology specialist for 27 years.
Skills and expertise
As a highly experienced listed equities fund manager, Ben has a deep understanding of the analysis process required for investing in public companies. His knowledge of the technology sector particularly enables him to identify the risks from disruption not just to the sector but in general. Ben applies this knowledge to his questioning and monitoring of Witan’s external managers.
External appointments
Director, Technology at Polar Capital.
Paul Yates
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
May 2018
Career and background
Previously CEO of UBS Global Asset Management (UK) Limited and held a number of global roles at UBS prior to retiring in 2007.
Skills and expertise
Paul‘s prior roles give him wide experience of the fund management business including equity management, marketing, people and business management. Paul also offers investment trust experience having sat on four other trust boards.
External appointments
Chairman of the Advisory Board of 33 St James’s Limited, non-executive director of Fidelity European Trust PLC and Capital Gearing Trust plc.
Board committees
- Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
- Chairman of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited
Shefaly Yogendra
BIOGRAPHY
Date of appointment
February 2023
Career and background
Shefaly has spent her career working with technology investors and start-ups. She previously worked at Ditto Al and HCL Technologies, and was a founder and a director of Livyora, a fine jewellery venture.
Skills and expertise
Shefaly is a risk and decision-making specialist and an experienced non-executive director of investment trusts.
External appointments
Non-executive director of Harmony Energy Income Trust plc, JPMorgan US Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC and Temple Bar Investment Trust plc.
Board committees
- Director of Witan Investment Services Limited.
Andrew Bell
BIOGRAPHY
Andrew Bell was appointed a Director and Chief Executive Officer from February 2010. He is responsible for the overall management of Witan. He is also Chief Executive of Witan investment Services Limited and Chairman of the Direct Income Trust plc. Previously he worked at Rensburg Sheppards Investment Management Limited as Head of Research and as an Equity Strategist and Co-Head of the Investment Trusts team at BZW and Credit Suisse First Boston. Prior to the City, he worked for Shell in Oman, leaving to take a Sloan Fellowship at the London Business School. Past appointments include as a non-Executive Director of Henderson High Income Trust plc (2004-18), Chairman of Gabelli Value Plus+ Trust plc (2015-18) and Chairman of the Association of Investment Companies (2011-13).
James Hart
BIOGRAPHY
James Hart was appointed as Investment Director of Witan Investment Trust plc in April 2015. Previously he worked at Cayenne Asset Management Ltd as a Portfolio Manager specialising in listed investment companies and as an emerging market specialist and Head of Funds at Bank Julius Bar (London) Ltd. Prior to investment management, he worked in institutional sales and as a Research Analyst at a boutique stockbroker.
