Gay Collins and Francesca Ecsery appointed to AIC board

Elisabeth Scott elected as Deputy Chair, Simon Crinage re-elected and Peter Arthur and Harry Morgan retire.

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The membership of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) has elected Gay Collins and Francesca Ecsery to the board of the AIC. Their appointment took effect following the AIC’s annual general meeting on 16 January 2020, when Simon Crinage from JP Morgan Asset Management was also re-elected. William Hemmings will be retiring as Deputy Chair and Elisabeth Scott has been elected by the board to succeed him.

Peter Arthur and Harry Morgan have both retired from the board. Peter was AIC Chair from 2015 to 2018 and also served on the AIC’s Audit and Remuneration committees. Harry joined the board in 2014 and was a member of the AIC’s Nominations committee.

Rachel Beagles, Chair of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Francesca and Gay to the AIC board, where their respective marketing and communications expertise and experience of retail platforms will be a major benefit to the work of the board and the industry. AIC members have identified marketing and communication as an area which is important to get right, as the industry welcomes demand from new investors. I look forward to working with both of them.

“I would like to thank Peter and Harry for all their hard work and place on record our appreciation of their significant contribution to the AIC and the industry. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank William for his work during his tenure as Deputy Chair.”

Gay Collins, Non-Executive Director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said: “I am very excited about joining the AIC board. The investment company industry faces a variety of challenges, not least from increased regulatory burden and competition and I believe that sharpening sales, marketing and PR techniques in tandem is essential to maximise impact.

“It is an honour to join the board and I will relish the opportunity to bring my experience in advising companies on strategy, opportunities and challenges to help the investment company industry over the next few years.”

Francesca Ecsery, Non-Executive Director of the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), said: “I am delighted to be joining the board of the AIC and very much looking forward to the opportunities and responsibilities this presents. I first became involved with financial services in 2011 and more recently the investment company industry in 2013 when I joined the F&C Investment Trust board. I am an ardent champion of investment companies and am always seeking better methods to present the closed-ended structure’s benefits to a wider audience.

“It will be a great privilege to serve on the AIC’s board and I look forward to using my experience to help benefit member investment companies.”

Gay Collins has over 29 years’ experience of advising companies in the asset management and pensions sectors. She founded and grew two PR companies: Penrose and Ludgate, and is a Founding Partner of Montfort Communications, responsible for Financial Services.

As an investment company board member, she has been particularly involved with the communications aspects surrounding the change in distribution strategy and name of JPMorgan Global Growth & Income (formerly JPMorgan Overseas). Gay is a founding steering committee member of the 30% Club, having supported the club for a decade on a pro bono basis developing its profile.

Francesca Ecsery has over 25 years’ experience in consumer-facing and marketing-led businesses, working with both blue-chip companies and start-ups in the digital, retail, fast-moving consumer goods and leisure/travel industries. She specialises in multi-platform consumer marketing, branding and commercial strategies to drive growth and profits. Francesca is currently on the board of a wide range of listed companies including F&C Investment Trust and The Share Centre. She has also served on the boards of other industry and membership organisations including WACL – Women in Advertising and Communications.

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Notes

  1. The Association of Investment Companies (AIC) was founded in 1932 to represent the interests of the investment trust industry – the oldest form of collective investment.  Today, the AIC represents a broad range of closed-ended investment companies, incorporating investment trusts and other closed-ended investment companies and VCTs. The AIC’s members believe that the industry is best served if it is united and speaks with one voice. The AIC’s mission statement is to help members add value for shareholders over the longer term. The AIC has 362 members and the industry has total assets of approximately £202 billion.
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