Ethical investor UCA Funds Management is pleased to announce the appointment of James Cook to the role of Director Investments.
Cook brings with him more than 32 years of portfolio and senior management experience in Australia and the UK. He joins UCA Funds Management from ANZ where he spent the bulk of his ten years as Head of Portfolio Management for ANZ Trustees.
In his role as Director Investments, Cook will be responsible for the formulation of investment strategy and overall management of UCA Funds Management portfolios.
UCA Funds Management Chief Executive Officer Michael Walsh said Mr Cook’s strong economic and investment background will be an asset to the investment and senior management teams.
“James is a highly experienced senior investment manager, with a strong background in portfolio management. He has led investment teams through organisational change, periods of strong business growth as well as day-to-day operations. His experience working with charitable organisations will also be an asset to our investors, many of whom are from the not-for-profit sector,” said Walsh.
“We believe James’ experience will strengthen the investment team, provide strong investment leadership, and allow us to better serve investors.”
Cook commenced his career as a trainee graduate with a Melbourne based stockbroking/financial planning firm before moving to the UK with Citicorp Scrimgeour Vickers on their Australian equities desk. While in the UK he joined the British Gas Pension Fund as a portfolio manager to start his career in funds management, responsible for the Australian and emerging markets portfolios. He has subsequently run a number of analyst and portfolio manager teams across diversified portfolios, international and domestic equities for Norwich Investment Management, Portfolio Partners and ANZ.