Directorate change
Summary by AI BETAClose X
Aberdeen Group plc
Non-executive director appointments
Aberdeen Group plc announces that Arno Kitts and Richard (Rick) Lacaille have been appointed to the Board as Non-Executive Directors with effect from 3 June 2026. They will put themselves forward for election by shareholders at the 2027 AGM.
Arno Kitts has over 30 years' experience in global asset management and insurance, having held senior leadership roles at BlackRock, Henderson Global Investors and JP Morgan. At BlackRock, he was Managing Director of the UK Institutional business and Chief Executive of its life insurance investment platform. He is the founder of Perspective Investments, a boutique investment management firm. He has also served as a Non-Executive Director of Pension Insurance Corporation plc, where he chaired the Investment and Origination Committee. His combination of investment, distribution, insurance and governance expertise will be a valuable addition to the Board. Arno is currently Chair of New World Group Holdings Limited and a member of the Investment Committee of The Valesco Group Limited.
Rick Lacaille is a highly experienced investment leader, having spent over 20 years in senior roles at State Street Global Advisors, latterly as Global Chief Investment Officer, where he had oversight of investment activity across active and passive strategies and multiple asset classes. He brings extensive experience of leading global investment teams, navigating complex market environments and driving strategic change across economic and market cycles. Rick also has deep experience in ESG having most recently served as Global Head of ESG at State Street, where he led the firm's approach to sustainability and engagement with regulators, clients and investors. His global perspective and understanding of markets and evolving regulatory themes will bring considerable value to the Board. He is currently a Senior Advisor at Enzo Advisors LLC and Executive Advisor at Arab Invest. He has also held a number of industry roles, including as Chair of the Institute for Quantitative Investment Research and as a member of the Investment Association's Asset Management Committee.
Commenting on these appointments, Jonathan Asquith, Chair of Aberdeen Group plc, said:
"I am delighted to welcome Arno and Rick to our Board. Both have considerable experience in global asset management, combining significant investment expertise with distribution, strategy and governance. Together, they bring highly complementary skills and perspectives and significant industry insight, which will be of considerable value as we execute Aberdeen's strategy to become the UK's leading wealth and investments business."
Following these changes, the Board will comprise two executive directors, seven non-executive directors and the Chair. The Board will be made up of four women and six men. The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have been notified of these changes. Arno and Rick's other appointments are listed below. There are no further details to disclose under Listing Rule 6.4.8R. The Board considers both Arno Kitts and Rick Lacaille to be independent in accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.
3 June 2026
Enquiries:
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Media Duncan Young
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+44 (0) 7920 868 865 |
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Institutional Equity Investors Duncan Heath
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+44 (0) 207 156 2495
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Group Secretariat Iain Jones
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+44 (0) 7464 917 797 |
LEI number of Aberdeen Group plc: 0TMBS544NMO7GLCE7H90
END
Notes to Editors
Arno Kitts
Non-Executive Director's Fee
Arno's fee as a Non-Executive Director of Aberdeen Group plc will be £75,000 per annum.
Interest in Shares
As at the date of this announcement, Arno does not hold any shares in Aberdeen Group plc.
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Biographical Details: |
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Nationality: |
British |
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Education: |
University of Southampton, PhD University of Southampton, BSc, Mathematics |
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Current Non-Executive Roles |
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2025 - Current |
New World Group Holdings Limited Chair |
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2023 - Current |
The Valesco Group Limited Member, Investment Committee |
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2017 - Current |
Wakett (Malta) Ltd Non-Executive Director |
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Executive Career Summary |
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2008 - Current |
Perspective Investments Founder, Director of MH Markets Global Limited and Pi Investment Management Limited; member of the Investment Committee and Investment Advisory Committee and a director of managed funds. |
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2012 - 2016 |
BlackRock Managing Director, UK Institutional Investment business Chief Executive of BlackRock Life Limited |
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2003 - 2012 |
Henderson Global Investors Head of Global Distribution Head of UK & EMEA Institutional Business |
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1997 - 2002 |
JP Morgan Chase Head of UK Institutional Business, JP Morgan Asset Management Head of European Defined Contribution Business, JP Morgan Asset Management Chief Executive, JP Morgan Life Limited |
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1989 - 1997 |
Forester Insurance Group UK Group Chief Executive & Head of Investments GM, Finance and Operations & Head of Investments Investment Analyst, Actuarial & Investment Department |
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Previous Non-Executive Roles |
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2016 - 2025 |
Pension Insurance Corporation plc and Pension Insurance Corporation Group Limited Non-Executive Director and Chair of Investment and Origination Committee |
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2017 - 2023 |
Wake Trade Technologies Ltd Non-Executive Director |
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2006 - 2011 |
Pension & Lifetime Savings Association Non-Executive Director |
Rick Lacaille
Non-Executive Director's Fee
Rick's fee as a Non-Executive Director of Aberdeen Group plc will be £75,000 per annum.
Interest in Shares
As at the date of this announcement, Rick does not hold any shares in Aberdeen Group plc.
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Biographical Details: |
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Nationality: |
British |
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Education: |
London Guildhall University, MSc, Econometrics and Forecasting Lancaster University, BSc, Operational Research |
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Current Advisory Roles |
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2024 - Current |
Enzo Advisors LLC Senior Advisor |
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2026- Current |
Arab Invest Executive Advisor |
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Executive Career Summary |
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2000 - 2023 |
State Street Global Advisors Senior Advisor and Global Head of ESG Global Chief Investment Officer Head of Global Active Quantitative Strategies Chief Investment Officer, Europe Head of Structured Equities |
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1993 - 2000 |
Gartmore Investment Management Ltd Head of Structured Equities Head of Quantitative Research |
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1984 - 1993 |
C Squared Quantitative Finance Consultant |
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