Brunner is run by an independent board of directors and has no employees. Like other investment companies, it outsources investment management and administration to an investment management company – Allianz Global Investors – and other third parties to provide shareholders with an efficient, competitive and cost-effective way to gain wide equity investment exposure through a single investment vehicle.
Managed by lead portfolio manager Matthew Tillett, and portfolio managers Jeremy Kent and Marcus Morris-Eyton, the trust favours large, well-financed businesses with global reach, pricing power and brand strength.
Matthew is lead portfolio manager for Brunner. He is also the lead portfolio manager on the UK Opportunities strategy. Prior to joining AllianzGI, Matthew worked at Datamonitor and the Office for National Statistics. He graduated from Bristol University with a first class degree in Economics and Economic History. He also holds a masters (with distinction) in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. Matthew holds the IMC designation and is a CFA® charterholder.
Jeremy Kent is a portfolio manager with Allianz Global Investors, which he joined in 2008. He has been the deputy portfolio manager of the Global Sustainability Strategy since 2013 and is a member of the AllianzGI Global Equity team. Prior to this, Jeremy worked as an industrial sector analyst with the AllianzGI Global ESG Research team. Before joining Allianz Global Investors, he founded and operated a small business. Jeremy has an MBA from Imperial College Business School, London and B.A. in entrepreneurial management from California State University. He is a CFA® charterholder and holds the IMC designation.
Marcus Morris-Eyton is a Portfolio Manager within the Europe Equity Growth Team at Allianz Global Investors, having joined the firm in 2011. Marcus is the Co-Lead Manager on the Allianz Continental European strategies and Deputy Lead Manager on the Allianz Euroland Equity Growth strategies, having taken over responsibility for both in June 2017. Marcus divides his time between London and Frankfurt. Marcus was named one of the top 40 under 40 rising stars in asset management by Financial News in 2015. Marcus is a regular contributor on CNBC and Bloomberg TV stations, as well as writing regularly for the trade press, and speaking at industry conferences. Marcus is a CFA® Charterholder, and graduated with a First Class honours degree, in English and philosophy from the University of Leeds.
The Brunner Investment Trust board is particularly experienced as its directors also sit on the boards of a number of large companies. So as well as providing shareholders with the reassurance of a diligent environment of checks and balances, they also provide the Trust with invaluable knowledge and economic insight.
Carolan Dobson joined the Board in December 2013 and has been Chairman since the AGM in March 2016. She is also Chairman of BlackRock Latin American Investment Trust plc and Baillie Gifford UK Growth Fund plc and a non-executive director of London CIV. She was previously head of UK equities at Abbey Asset Managers, Head of Investment Trusts at Murray Johnstone and was the portfolio manager of two investment trusts.
Joined the board in December 2019. Amanda is a non-executive director and Audit Committee Chair of Headlam Group plc and of Impact Healthcare REIT plc and is also a non-executive director on the Regulated Board of Places for People Group. She worked at KPMG LLP for 33 years until 2017 and during her career she was Head of the Retail Sector practice before becoming Head of Contract Governance in the Risk-Consulting Division. Amanda is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Joined the board in April 2020. Andrew is owner and director of A.J. Hutton Ltd, an investment advisory practice established in 2007. Andrew started his career in 1979 at J.P. Morgan where, over 18 years, he held investment and business management positions in London, New York, Singapore and Australia. He was subsequently head of investment management at Coutts Group and co-CEO of RBS Asset Management. Andrew has served as Senior Independent Director of Baillie Gifford UK Growth Fund and Chairman of JPMorgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust. Andrew is a CFA Charterholder.
Joined the board in October 2010. Peter is a retired solicitor and qualified with Slaughter and May in 1977. He was Group Legal Director at Prudential plc from 1998 to 2009 and Company Secretary from July 1999. Prior to that he was with HSBC for 14 years during which time he was variously a director of HSBC Investment Bank, President and Chief Executive Officer of James Capel Inc in New York and finally Deputy Group Legal Adviser. He was formerly a non-executive director of Asia Dragon Trust plc. He is a former chairman of the GC100 and was a supervisory board member of the London Business School Centre for Corporate Governance.
Joined the board in January 2014. Jim began his career in financial services with J. Henry Schroder & Co from 1992 to 2002, where he was a director, and has since held senior roles with a number of private equity backed businesses. He is chairman of In The Style Fashion, Seraphine and Rupert Sanderson Shoes and a non-executive director of James Cropper PLC and feelunique.com.
