Peter Branner to join abrdn as Chief Investment Officer

abrdn has appointed Peter Branner as Chief Investment Officer (CIO), effective 1 May 2023, reporting to Chris Demetriou and Rene Buehlmann, CEOs of Investments.

Peter joins from APG Asset Management, one of the largest global pension investors based in Europe, where, as CIO, he has been responsible for investment leadership and oversight of public and private markets. Prior to that, he served as CEO and CIO of Swedish SEB Investment Management in Stockholm where he was responsible for the overall investment process at the firm and its broad range of funds and institutional mandates. Peter has also held other senior investment roles, including CIO at Fortis Investments’ multi management division in London and Managing Director of IKANO Fund Management in Luxembourg.

Peter will play an important leadership role as we continue with the progress already made on re-shaping our investments vector. Moving away from operating across a broad waterfront, the business is placing more emphasis on its core strengths, simplifying the product offering, increasing efficiency and improving investment performance.  Peter’s role will ensure that we build a culture of innovation, learning and continuous improvement across our global investment teams.

Welcoming Peter to abrdn, Rene Buehlmann, Co-CEO Investments said:

“Peter’s experience will be fundamental in driving performance, further modernising our investment approaches and implementing future-fit investment technologies. Having led investment teams at asset managers and asset owners, Peter is ideally suited to work with our asset class heads and the broader leadership team to develop client-led investment propositions.”

Chris Demetriou, Co-CEO Investments added:

“Peter’s joining marks a new chapter in our transformation. Over the past two years we have made great strides in reshaping our investments business. Our capabilities in public markets and alternatives support clients in accessing investment opportunities that capitalise on the key themes driving the global economy - such as growth in Asia, climate change, urbanisation & infrastructure development, and the democratisation of financial services. Peter’s outstanding track record and experienced leadership will be invaluable as our re-shaped business prepares for growth.

Peter Branner commented:

“I am delighted to be joining abrdn at such an important time. Having led different teams and offerings over the years I am familiar with the scale of the ambition that abrdn has. The opportunity to help build a business that meets the needs of modern investors, aims for world-class performance and cuts out complexity, is a hugely exciting prospect.

As a passionate advocate for sustainable long-term investing, and the wider positive impacts the industry can deliver, I am looking forward to being part of a firm that has a strong heritage in sustainable investing and exploring how we best support our clients in a challenged world.”

 

Ends

Peter Branner CV

• Chief Investment Officer of APG Asset Management. Responsible for the overall investment operations and optimisation of long term and responsible investments in line with the APG strategy.
• Branner has 30 years of investment experience including CEO/CIO of the Investment Management business of SEB in Sweden. Branner started his career at the Danish ministry of public affairs where he was involved in converting the public payment system to a listed bank, where he later worked as treasurer.
• From 2008 to 2018 Branner served on the board of SIFA - the Swedish Investment Fund Association, and later EFAMA - the European Fund & Asset Management Association. In June 2021, Peter re-joined the EFAMA Board as Vice-President. In addition, he has a seat on the advisory board of the Brandes Institute in San Diego since 2003.
• Peter Branner holds M.Sc. (Strategy & Management), B.Sc. (Economics) and a B.Sc. (Business Administration), all from Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

 

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Notes to editors

About abrdn

At abrdn, we enable our clients to plan, save and invest for their futures.

We structure our business into three areas – and together they reflect our focus on enabling our clients to be better investors:

• Investments: We work with clients to create solutions across asset classes, regions and markets globally – combining multi-layered research and market insights with technology and diverse thinking.
• Adviser: We offer market-leading platform technology and tools that enable UK wealth managers and financial advisers to create more opportunity for their business and their clients.
• Personal: We help people throughout the UK plan for their financial futures – through our financial planning business and our digital investing services.

Across our investments, adviser and personal businesses we manage and administer £508.4 billion of assets for our clients, and abrdn plc has over 1 million shareholders. (Figures as at 30 June 2022)

Our investments are built on an insight strength that comes from multi-layered research and a large global footprint. Our teams collaborate across multiple capabilities, to create forward-thinking solutions that aim to meet our clients’ needs and deliver more sustainable outcomes. Our investments business manages £386.3 billion on behalf of individuals, governments, pension funds, insurers, companies, charities and foundations (as at 30 June 2022) – with support and expertise from 800 investment specialists in over 30 locations.

 

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