A Fidelity equity product specialist on global and US funds has left to join Architas.

Jonathan Arthur takes up the role of fund product specialist at his new firm.

He will support the 14 strong UK distribution team working with advisers to explain Architas’ core offering of risk profiled, income producing and specialist funds as well as the soon to be launched Architas Managed Portfolio Service.

Architas has also appointed Marcelle Williams to its UK marketing team to help with the upcoming launch. She joins from BlackRock where she has spent the past five years.

Cedric Bucher, head of Architas UK funds, said: “Jonathan’s technical and investment expertise will support our ongoing work with advisers and explain the investment solutions we offer. We know that advisers still value personal, face to face contact at a time when some competitors are reducing this service.”

He said: “The last 12 months have seen tremendous change for both the industry and Architas, including the recent decision by AXA UK to sell the AXA Wealth business.

“Recent hires in distribution and marketing have increased the team size to over 30. We have built on our core risk profiled range with the addition of specialist alternative and income funds and plan to launch a new Managed Portfolio Service shortly.”

He said: “Being on the road for much of April and speaking to over 1000 advisers at various events has helped us to understand advisers’ concerns and priorities at a time when investor confidence seems quite subdued.

“The immediate issues seem to be the impact of ongoing market volatility and uncertainty in the run-up to the EU referendum. However, the more fundamental question is ensuring a sound centralised investment proposition - and increasingly a sound centralised retirement proposition - and how income solutions can fit the needs and demands of today’s retirees.

“Our role is to demonstrate to advisers how we can help address these issues and work in partnership with them to meet the needs of their clients.”