James Sym, head of equities, R&M

Listed asset manager River and Mercantile (R&M) has appointed fund manager James Sym to take on a new expanded role as head of equities.

Mr Sym joined R&M as partner in 2020 to establish the business’s European equities franchise.

Before he joined R&M, he was fund manager for Schroders for seven years and at Cazenove Capital for six years.

He currently manages the ES River and Mercantile European Fund.  

In his expanded role, Mr Sym will focus on driving the firm’s equity products forward.

He will be based in London and will continue to report to R&M’s chief executive, Alex Hoctor-Duncan. The new expanded role is effective immediately.

Mr Sym said: “It is an exciting time at R&M, as an ambitious, focused boutique with an outstanding investment culture and performance track record.

“Continuing to deliver on our ambition of strong and differentiated investment performance, while preserving our distinctive culture at our new home within AssetCo, will establish R&M as the investment management firm of choice, for both fund managers and investors alike.”

Mr Hoctor-Duncan commented: “As we look toward to the next stage of our journey as an integrated part of AssetCo, I’m delighted that James will be steering our Equities business forward.”

In February, R&M appointed Matt Hudson as a portfolio manager in its PVT (potential, valuation, timing) team.