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The Neptune Board of Directors carries a wealth of experience in financial services. Together with Neptune’s employees, they own approximately three quarters of the company, helping to ensure that the future direction of Neptune is aligned with our clients’ interests.
Robin graduated from Keble College, Oxford in 1979 and began his investment career at Charterhouse J Rothschild as a graduate trainee. His next move was to Eagle Star, where he was initially on the European desk before heading the Asia Pacific team. He then became Senior Investment Manager at York Trust plc before spending 7 years at Scottish Equitable, where he set up their pooled fund business. During this time, he was instrumental in establishing the UK’s first emerging market pension fund. Robin joined Orbitex Investments Limited as Chief Investment Officer in 1997 and was most recently Global CIO – Pensions. Robin set up Neptune Investment Management in May 2002.
Richard graduated from Oxford with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics before acquiring an investment management and private banking background at Grieveson, Grant & Co and subsequently at Kleinwort Benson. He joined Barclays Private Bank at its inception in 1993, later becoming its Chief Executive and in 2006 serving as a Managing Director on the Management Committee of Barclays Wealth. He served as a member of Barclays Wealth's UK Private Bank Advisory Board until 2010. Richard joined Neptune as Corporate Development Director in May 2008 to further its profile in the stockbroker, private bank and wealth management community. In November 2008 he became Neptune's Deputy Managing Director.
James joined Neptune as an Economist in May 2007 before becoming Chief Economist in September 2009 and Chief Economist & CIO in May 2015. James was promoted to the Neptune Board in September 2015 and leads the company’s global economic research, working closely with Fund Manager & CEO Robin Geffen in managing the investment process. Previously James taught Economics and Economic History at the London School of Economics (LSE) and Aberdeen Business School and worked in actuarial consultancy. He has degrees in Economics from Edinburgh and King's College, Cambridge. He is currently a PhD scholar at the LSE.
Robert Smith joined Neptune in October 2013 as Deputy Finance Director and was promoted to the Board as Chief Financial Officer in May 2016. Prior to joining Neptune, he worked at Fidelity International where he spent eight years developing broad finance, risk management, regulatory and operational investment management experience. Robert has also previously worked at Barclays Wealth and Henderson Global Investors and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte in 1996. He holds an MA from Cambridge University.
Daniel joined Neptune as Head of Sales in September 2017 before being promoted to the Board. Daniel has established an extensive career in the retail asset management industry, having previously worked as Head of UK Wholesale at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management, as well as at Allianz Global Investors, Cazenove Capital and Old Mutual. Daniel has two degrees from Imperial College.
Jonathan began his actuarial career with Duncan C Fraser & Co in 1978. Within seven years, Jonathan became a partner, prior to the company being acquired by William M Mercer. In 1988, Jonathan founded Punter Southall & Co together with Stuart Southall. He has over twenty years’ experience in the actuarial profession, with particular expertise in the areas of UK pensions and investment strategy. Jonathan is also one of Punter Southall’s specialists on the issues surrounding pensions in mergers, buy-outs and due diligence deals. He joined Neptune as Chairman in 2002.
Alex Catto is Managing Director of Cairnsea Investments Limited, which has a number of investments in early stage companies. Prior to the establishment of Cairnsea, he was a Director of Morgan Grenfell & Co Ltd and then Lazard Brothers & Co Ltd. His Directorships include Synthomer PLC and Marketingfile Group Ltd. In addition, he sits on the advisory panel for the Elderstreet Software Fund. Alex joined Neptune in 2002.
Stuart began his actuarial career with Duncan C Fraser & Co in 1980, prior to the company being acquired by William M Mercer. In 1988, Stuart co-founded Punter Southall & Co with Jonathan Punter and is currently Chairman of its actuarial consultancy business and Chief Actuarial Officer. He has thirty years’ experience in the actuarial profession, with particular expertise in the areas of UK occupational pensions, pension aspects of corporate transactions and investment strategy. Stuart holds various other directorships within the Punter Southall Group and from 2010 to 2012 is serving as Chairman of the Association of Consulting Actuaries. He is also a school governor and a trustee of various pension schemes and an endowment trust. Stuart joined Neptune in 2002.
Our real world research focuses on questions where differences of interpretation by investors are large. We believe that strong outperformance can be achieved by correctly interpreting changes in the real world, from industry disruption through to individual company strategies.
