• Resize text
• Print this page

June 15, 2011

Russell Investment Consulting expands due to insto demand for advice in complex environment

• Dr Jerome Lander appointed director of consulting
• Russell Investments anticipates doubling investment consulting business

SYDNEY, June 15, 2011 - Global investment solutions firm Russell Investments is anticipating a doubling of its investment consulting business over the next three years with the announcement today of two new hires in response to institutional investors' growing demand for sophisticated investment advice.

Russell Consulting provides investment advice on more than $2 trillion worth of assets globally. Amongst its client base are many of the world's most prominent investment institutions including AT&T, Toyota and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Head of consulting and advisory services in Australia for Russell Investments, Greg Liddell, said the growing complexity of the investment environment has seen institutional investors demand more from their investment consultants.

“Over time institutional investors have built up in-house expertise. Many of the investment processes on which they previously sought consulting advice have now become business as usual. The services where they do engage consultants are becoming increasingly complex and specialised. To remain relevant to sophisticated clients in a post-GFC world, consultants need to continually broaden and deepen their pool of intellectual property.”

Russell has appointed Dr Jerome Lander, former chief investment officer of Workcover NSW, as director of consulting. Dr Lander will be based in the Sydney office and will be responsible for providing investment strategy and implementation services to Russell's consulting clients.

“Dr Lander has experience as both an advisor and implementer of investment strategies. He is one of the most highly regarded professionals in the industry. His appointment is entirely consistent with Russell's preference for consultants with practical experience in implementation,” Mr Liddell said.

As CIO at Workcover NSW, Dr Lander was responsible for the management of a $12 billion institutional investment portfolio. He has also served as the head of international equities and diversified assets at Credit Suisse Asset Management and head of research at Van Eyk Research.

Russell has also appointed Migara Alles as an addition to its team of investment consulting analysts. Mr Alles will be based in Melbourne and joins Russell from the wholesale banking division of National Australia Bank.

The new hires bring Russell's Australian consulting and advisory team to 18 and the global team to 82 associates. They follow a string of new hires including generalist consultants as well as specialist consultants in the areas of alternatives, after tax investing, risk and operational due diligence, over the last 12 months.