Kleinwort Benson has appointed Mouhammed Choukeir as Chief Investment Officer.
Mouhammed Choukeir joins from Morgan Stanley where he was Head of Multi-Asset Class investing in the wealth management division. In this role, he and his team were responsible for managing portfolios for clients in Europe, Middle East and Asia including individuals, endowments, charities and family offices.
Previously, he was a fixed income and foreign exchange portfolio manager with Morgan Stanley, having originally joined the firm in 2002 after spending his early career in the fixed income division of Citigroup’s investment bank in New York, London and Madrid.
“Mouhammed brings a strong track record in absolute return investing and risk management. His experience and approach will strengthen Kleinwort Benson’s asset allocation framework and disciplined approach to risk management,” said Sally Tennant, Chief Executive Officer of Kleinwort Benson.
Mr Choukeir, who will take his post in October, will build on the solid foundations laid by Kleinwort Benson’s current Chief Investment Officer, Jeremy Beckwith.
“I would like to thank Jeremy for the work he has done over the last eight years in transforming our investment proposition from one based mainly around UK equities, into a truly multi-asset and global proposition,” said Tennant.
As Chief Investment Officer, Choukeir will be responsible for all aspects of Kleinwort Benson’s investment proposition, heading up a team of experienced analysts and portfolio and investment managers. He will be supported by Natalie Merrens, Head of Products and Services, Andrew Thompson, Head of Advisory Portfolio Management and Scott Gray, Head of Multi-Asset Fund Management. Choukeir will build on the strength and depth of Kleinwort Benson Bank’s range of investment products, which include the Elite Funds, which are offshore multi-asset funds, Endeavour Funds – multi-asset onshore funds, the Kleinwort Benson Elite Universal Alpha hedge fund and the Gresham range of structured product funds.
At the same time, Kleinwort Benson is further developing its corporate advisory service to entrepreneurs. The bank believes it is important to support clients who are building businesses at every stage of the wealth creation cycle: from early-stage loans, to growth capital and M&A advice, through to IPO and subsequent wealth management and wealth structuring.
Sally Tennant added:
“The appointment of Mouhammed Choukeir as CIO is our latest development and adds to momentum that has been building through 2011. We recently moved into new offices in St George Street W1 and have made a number of senior appointments, including Marianne Kafena of Lombard Odier as Head of Strategic Wealth Planning and Jeremy Brown and Stephen Campbell from Schroders as a Managing Director and Executive Director respectively.
At the same time, we have been expanding through strategic acquisitions. We recently bought Close Offshore Group for £26 million, which added £1.6bn assets under management; and have moved into the family office arena with the acquisition of Karrig Strategic Capital which serves family offices independently as Kleinwort Benson Private Investment Office.”
About Mouhammed Choukeir
Mouhammed is a CFA Charter Holder, and recently achieved a Masters in Finance with distinction from London Business School. He is also a graduate of University of London, King’s College.
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About Kleinwort Benson
Kleinwort Benson is an historic name in British private banking, with roots dating back to the 1790s. Providing a range of bespoke wealth management services to private individuals, it offers clients advice and solutions tailored to their individual needs. With an offering which spans investment management, corporate advisory, tax and banking, trust and fiduciary services Kleinwort Benson is able to provide clients with a truly holistic service. Kleinwort Benson operates from offices in London and across the UK and Channel Islands, South Africa and via a range of networks and partners across the globe.
Kleinwort Benson was one of the first major financial institutions to be established in the Channel Islands nearly 50 years ago. In addition to wealth management, Kleinwort Benson is also a leading provider of fund administration and custodian services, working with fund managers across a wide range of traditional and alternative asset classes.
In June 2011 Kleinwort Benson completed its acquisition of Close Offshore Group (COG), comprising COG’s private banking, fund administration, fund management, trust and asset management businesses across Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man. It also includes COG’s shared service centre in Cape Town. The acquisition follows Kleinwort Benson’s strategy of developing its offshore capability, adding scale to its banking and fiduciary businesses and enhancing Kleinwort Benson’s client offering with the addition of innovative products and new distribution channels. The combined business has strength and depth in terms of its people, services and systems.
In July 2011 Kleinwort Benson acquired respected family office Karrig Strategic Capital LLP, a six person team headed by Paul Kearney. They joined the bank to form a new unit: the ‘Kleinwort Benson Private Investment Office’ which serves family offices independently within Kleinwort Benson.
Kleinwort Benson’s sister company, Kleinwort Benson Investors Dublin, is an investment management specialist for institutional investors. Kleinwort Benson and Kleinwort Benson Investors Dublin are both part of Kleinwort Benson Group.
Kleinwort Benson is the brand name of the Kleinwort Benson Group of Companies in the Channel Islands which is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for the conduct of Investment Business, Fund Services Business, Trust Company Business and General Insurance Mediation Business. Kleinwort Benson in Guernsey is regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission for the conduct of Banking Business, Investment Business and provision of Fiduciary Services and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Services Authority in respect of UK regulated mortgage activity. Kleinwort Benson (Channel Islands) Limited which is a company incorporated in Guernsey with the company number 52103 is a participant in the Guernsey Banking Deposit Compensation Scheme. The Scheme offers protection for ‘qualifying deposits’ up to £50,000.00 subject to certain limitations. The maximum total amount of compensation is capped at £100,000,000.00 in any 5 year period. Full details are available on the Scheme’s website www.dcs.gg or on request. Registered Offices are Dorey Court, Admiral Park, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 2HT and Kleinwort Benson House, Wests Centre, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PQ.
Kleinwort Benson is the brand name of Kleinwort Benson Bank Limited. Kleinwort Benson is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) firm reference number 119269 and is a member of the London Stock Exchange. The FSA does not regulate tax business. Kleinwort Benson is a company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 2056420 and VAT number 991 2295 95. Registered Office 14 St. George Street London W1S 1FE. Telephone +44 (0) 20 3207 7000. Telephone calls may be recorded.