Janus Henderson Investors announced on Thursday that John Bennett, its Director of European Equities, has decided to retire from the asset management industry and the firm in August 2024 to “focus his energies on overseeing the running of Rangers Football Club.”
Bennett, the chairman of Rangers, is also the portfolio manager on the Janus Henderson Continental European and Pan-European long-only and long/short strategies.
“Following his retirement from the industry, John will focus his energies on overseeing the running of Rangers Football Club, of which he is a lifelong supporter,” said Janus Henderson Investors, which has $322 billion in assets under management.
Bennett said: “This is the best European Equities team I have had the pleasure to work in.
“Together we have built a really strong culture of success and I have every confidence that this team will continue to deliver for our clients.”
Bennett has been Director of European Equities at Janus Henderson Investors since 2011 when his previous employer, Gartmore, was acquired by Henderson.
Prior to this he served as Investment Director at Global Asset Management (GAM) for 17 years, where he developed and led the European equities business.
His first role in asset management was at Edinburgh fund management boutique Ivory & Sime, a position he moved to from a role at Clydesdale Bank.
Janus Henderson Investors CEO Ali Dibadj said: “John Bennett is a valued member of the Janus Henderson investment team and has helped shape the culture of the firm over the past 12 years.
“Over a long career in financial services, John has built a reputation for making the right decision at the right time and buying stocks when others feared to invest.
“He has made many important contributions to Janus Henderson and our clients both as a Portfolio Manager and senior leader.
“We wish him well in his retirement from the industry and as Chairman of Rangers Football Club. We hope John’s talents bring as much success to the fans of the club as he has to the clients of Janus Henderson.”
Janus Henderson said Bennett will remain engaged in his current role and will work closely with the team to transition his responsibilities until his departure in August 2024.
“As part of a robust succession planning effort for the firm’s investment teams, Robert Schramm-Fuchs will remain as the primary Portfolio Manager on the Pan-European team’s Large Cap Long/Short strategies,” said the firm.
“Robert is currently partnering with John on these strategies. Additionally, Robert will assume responsibility for the European Focus Fund alongside Marc Schartz.
“Robert has been with the firm since 2014 and has worked very closely with John for the last nine years. Robert joined Janus Henderson as a European equity analyst.
“Prior to Janus Henderson, he was with Macquarie’s global alternative energy and utilities research team from 2010.
“Before this, he was head of the renewables research team at Commerzbank based in Frankfurt. He also worked with BHF Bank and Independent Research covering the solar sector for nine years. Robert has 18 years of financial industry experience.
“Tom O’Hara and Tom Lemaigre, who have been working closely alongside John for the last five years, will assume primary portfolio management responsibilities on the Pan-European team’s Long Only strategies that they currently co-manage with him.
“Tom O’Hara has 17 years of financial industry experience and has co-managed these strategies with John Bennett since 2020.
“Tom Lemaigre has nine years financial industry experience and was appointed a Portfolio Manager on these strategies in February 2022.
“Tom O’Hara is also co-manager with John Bennett of the Henderson European Focus Trust Plc (HEFT) and, in addition, took the lead managing the investment relationship with the board, as communicated in the HEFT 2021 annual report, and will continue to do so.”
CEO Dibadj added: “Given the lengthy handover period, the experience of the Portfolio Managers in the team, and their many years of partnership with John, we expect this to be a seamless evolution.
“I have the utmost confidence in the continuing European Equities team, whose investment processes, philosophy, and team-based approach will remain unchanged.
“As a firm we possess significant professional depth and robust transition plans, which are designed to ensure and maintain an exceptional client experience.”