Aberdeen Asset Management has strengthened further its Diversified Growth investment capability with the appointment of Mike Brooks as co-lead alongside Mike Turner.

Mike joins from Baillie Gifford where he was the co-founder and an investment manager on the Baillie Gifford Diversified Growth Fund. In joining Aberdeen's Investment Solutions business, Mike will work closely with his new colleagues across the multi-asset portfolio management and research teams.

Aberdeen's Diversified Growth strategy was launched in November 2011 with the aim of providing attractive real returns, via a well-diversified multi-asset portfolio, with significantly lower volatility than equity markets across a full market cycle. The team takes a high conviction approach to investment decision making.

The strategy capitalises on the expertise of Aberdeen's in-house fixed income, active equity, quant, property and alternative teams. The acquisition of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership in 2014 has enhanced further these in-house capabilities whilst adding more, including absolute return bond. When Aberdeen requires alternative capabilities to meet client requirements, for example in specialist asset classes, the team allocates to external managers using Investment Solutions’ manager selection capabilities.

Aberdeen’s Investment Solutions team comprises over 60 investment staff managing more than £85 billion in multi-asset portfolios for clients around the world (as 30 September 2014).

Archie Struthers, Global Head of Investment Solutions at Aberdeen Asset Management, comments: "Our Diversified Growth strategy is a key part of our outcome orientated investment capability, designed to help meet growing investor demand for portfolio solutions offering attractive levels of real return but with lower volatility than traditional equity-based strategies.

“We are delighted to have attracted someone of Mike’s calibre which is a reflection of the high regard he has for Aberdeen and our significantly enhanced multi-asset capabilities in Investment Solutions. Mike is a seasoned investor with a proven competency in constructing well diversified real return portfolios that deliver on their objectives. Most importantly, his investment philosophy is very much aligned to our approach and process. His appointment is a clear sign of Aberdeen’s long-term commitment to leadership in the diversified growth investment arena and strengthens further our team and product capability.”

For further information, please contact:

Guy Nicholls,Aberdeen Asset Management
+44 (0)20 7463 5809

Tom Eckersley, Maitland
+44 (0)20 7379 5151

Notes to Editors

Biography

Prior to his recruitment, Mike Brooks was an investment manager in the Diversified Growth team at Baillie Gifford. He co-founded the Diversified Growth strategy in 2008, playing a leading role in the development of the philosophy and process, in the ongoing management of the fund and in the successful expansion of the client base. Mike joined Baillie Gifford in 2000 as Head of Investment Risk. Previously he was Head of Quantitative Research at Aegon Asset Management and is a qualified actuary.

About Aberdeen Asset Management

Aberdeen is a global asset management group. Formed out of a management buy-out in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1983, Aberdeen is a FTSE 100 company operating on-the-ground in over 23 countries across Europe, Asia and the Americas.

The Group is defined by its pure focus on asset management, including equities, fixed income, property and multi-asset portfolios. All investment solutions are driven by its commitment to straightforward, transparent investment approaches that stress intensive, first-hand research and a long-term view.

As at 30 September 2014, Aberdeen managed assets of £324 billion ($526.0 billion, €416 billion) on behalf of institutional and private investors.

Further information about Aberdeen can be found at www.aberdeen-asset.com

Issued by Aberdeen Asset Managers Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.