After more than 19 years at Schroders and an investment career spanning 32 years, Geoff Blanning (pictured), Head of Emerging Market Debt Absolute Return and Commodities Group, has decided to retire and will leave the company in April 2018.
Abdallah Guezour, currently Head of Emerging Market Debt Absolute Return, will become Head of the Emerging Market Debt Absolute Return & Commodities Group in January 2018. Abdallah joined Schroders in 2000 and has worked with Geoff for over 20 years.
To ensure continuity, Mark Lacey, who has been working closely with Geoff over the past three years as a fund manager for Schroders Commodities Strategy, Global Energy and Global Gold, will take over the leadership of the Commodities team and overall energy sector responsibilities from January 2018.
Lacey has been a senior member of the Commodities team since 2014 and has over 20 years investment experience. Prior to joining Schroders, Lacey worked at Mercuria Global Energy Solutions where he was managing partner. From 2008 to 2012 Lacey was co-manager of the Investec Global Energy Funds and previously co-head of the global energy team at Goldman Sachs International.
Nicky Richards, Global Head of Equities at Schroders, says: “I would like to thank Geoff for his outstanding contribution to Schroders over the past 19 years. He has built a robust business with a clearly defined investment philosophy, a robust investment process and a strong team culture.
“The appointments of Abdallah Guezour and Mark Lacey will give our clients absolute investment continuity. We have great strength and depth of experience within our Emerging Market Debt Absolute Return and Commodities Group which has been proven through many different market environments since 2005.”
