Henderson Smaller Companies’ Neil Hermon bows out after 36-year career
Veteran UK smaller companies fund manager Neil Hermon is set to retire from Janus Henderson in September.
The move will see him step down from Henderson Smaller Companies (HSL ) after 22 years heading up the £572m investment trust. According to a market announcement this morning, co-manager Indriatti van Hien will continue to run the portfolio along the same lines, having first been appointed a deputy in 2016.
Hermon, who has been working in finance for 36 years in total, also ran the Janus Henderson UK Apha and UK Smaller Companies open-ended funds. Co-manager van Hien will likewise continue working on these strategies.
Penny Freer, chair of Henderson Smaller Companies, said: ‘Neil has made an outstanding contribution to the [trust] in his long tenure as fund manager, for which the board is extremely grateful.
‘Having worked closely with Indriatti for the last nine years, the board has every confidence that her significant experience and proven expertise will continue to be a huge asset.’
As with many small-cap peers, Henderson Smaller Companies has endured challenges in recent years. Over the half-decade to yesterday, shareholders have seen a 75% return, while the Deutsche Numis Smaller Companies ex-Investment Companies benchmark has returned 89%.
