Methodist Investment Unit Unveils New Management Team

The Central Finance Board of the Methodist Church hasannounced the management team that will assume responsibility whenits current Chief Executive, Bill Seddon, steps down at the end of2016. 

David Palmer, currently Head of Private Client InvestmentManagement at Towry Ltd will be joining the Central Finance Board(CFB) in September and will assume the role of Chief Executive fromthe beginning of January.  Chief Investment Officer, StephenBeer, in an enhanced role, will take sole responsibility fordevising and executing the CFB's investment strategy.  TheTeam is completed by Marina Philips, who remains as CFB Secretaryand Chief Financial Officer.

CFB Chair, John Sandford said "We are delighted that DavidPalmer has agreed to join the CFB and believe that his provenrecord in growing asset management businesses will enable us totake the development of our wholly owned subsidiary, EpworthInvestment Management (Epworth), to the next level.  Togetherwith Stephen Beer, already an acknowledged leader in the world ofethical investment, and Marina Philips, we will have a formidableteam."

On accepting his new role, David Palmer commented "Having builtmy career on core values based on my Christian faith, this is mydream job.  I strongly believe that integrating Christianethics into the investment process, as the CFB and Epworth havesuccessfully done for many years, can be the springboard for agrowing and sustainable fund management business." 

The CFB, an innovator in responsible investment, was establishedin 1960 to enable Methodist organisations to pool their assets andmanage them efficiently.  Epworth, its wholly ownedsubsidiary, was formed to allow the proven expertise of the CFB tobe offered to a wider market.  This is mainly done through theAffirmative range of common investment and deposit funds, whichalong with the CFB range of funds are managed in line with theethical stance of the Methodist Church.  The CFB and Epworthactively integrate engagement with companies on financial, ethical,social, environmental and governance performance as part of theirinvestment decision making process.