Meet the AJ Bell Investments team
When you choose one of our investment ideas, you're tapping into the expertise of the AJ Bell Investments team, who've more than 100 years' combined experience managing funds for retail and institutional investors. Several of the team have also worked for and alongside independent advice firms, building centralised investment propositions and other investment management solutions.
Ryan Hughes: Managing Director
Ryan started his career in 1999 working for an independent financial adviser, progressing to become Head of Portfolio Management at an award-winning advisory firm. Ryan then joined a global asset management firm as a Fund Manager, where he oversaw more than £10bn of multi-asset portfolios and also sat on the investment and global asset allocation committees. After seven years, Ryan joined a small multi-asset boutique managing portfolios for clients all around the world, before joining AJ Bell three years later to help establish our investment capability.
Paul Angell: Head of Investment Research
Paul began his investment career with a global investment bank in 2010, holding various roles across London and Hong Kong over the following years. In 2016, Paul then joined a UK-based investment consultancy business. Here, he was responsible for selecting investment strategies across asset classes to support the firm’s £2.5 billion managed portfolio service, as well as numerous external clients. Paul joined AJ Bell in 2023 to lead the firm’s investment research offering, ensuring clients across the business have a great selection of investment options to work with.
Richard Slattery-Vickers: Head of Product
Richard started his career in financial services in 2005. He worked for a global custodian for eleven years, primarily providing investment operation and accounting services for asset managers on their UK domiciled fund ranges. He then joined a boutique asset manager, where he helped establish and head up the operations for its Authorised Corporate Director (“ACD”) business, joining its Board in 2020, where it supported a range of UK domiciled funds. He holds the CISI Investment Advice Diploma (IAD), CISI Certificate in Investment Management and CFA ESG Certificate. Richard joined AJ Bell in 2023 with responsibility for leading the investment operations and product governance for AJ Bell’s investment solutions.
James Flintoft: Head of Investment Solutions
James has over a decade of experience running MPS and managed accounts for intermediaries. After graduating from Northumbria University with a first class degree in Finance & Investment Management, James joined a regional DFM, where he most recently served as Head of Investments. He joined AJ Bell Investments in 2023 as a Fund Manager. James is a CFA charterholder.
Ian Aylward: Head of Investment Partnership
Ian started his career as an equity fund manager before moving into manager analysis. For almost a decade he covered a range of asset classes and managed topperforming funds with a major asset management firm. Most recently he was Head of Manager Selection and Responsible Investment for a multinational bank where he led a team covering a wide range of multi-asset and single-asset class funds and was responsible for all aspects of ESG investing. While being responsible for over £15 billion in assets with external managers, Ian was twice voted Citywire’s leading fund selector in the UK. He has an MSc in Economics and Finance and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CAIA.
Terry McGivern: Senior Research Analyst
Terry’s career in financial services began in 2005 on the settlements team at a major bank. He later moved to an investment management company and then a leading provider of financial services. In 2010 he took up a proprietary futures trading role at one of the world’s largest independent global commodities brokers. Prior to joining AJ Bell Terry spent five years on the Investment Management Team at a discretionary investment manager in Liverpool, where he was also a member of the Asset Allocation Committee. Terry holds the CFA-UK Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and is currently studying towards the CFA Level 2 exam.
Alex Wickham: Research Analyst
Alex’s financial services career began in 2013 in our Dealing Team, where he held various roles – most recently Fund Dealing Manager. He then joined the AJ Bell Investments Team in 2022 as a Research Analyst, supporting the team on active fund selection. Alex holds an Investment Advice Diploma (IAD) and the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Ruby Bollington: Junior Research Analyst
Ruby was part of the AJ Bell Investments summer internship in 2022, before moving into a permanent role on the AJ Bell Investments Team in September 2022. She graduated from the University of Manchester with a first-class degree in International Business, Finance and Economics. Ruby holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and the Sustainable Investing Certificate.
Alexandra Farrell: Product Manager
Alex first joined AJ Bell Securities in 2020 in the Client Services department and moved to join the Investments team in August 2021. She has a first class degree from the University of Leeds in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (International) and spent a year of this studying in Australia. She holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC) and the PRINCE2 Practitioner Certificate in project management. Alex is currently studying towards her Level 5 CMI qualification in Management and Leadership.
Jess Wilkinson: Senior Product Analyst
Jess joined us in September 2024, previously working for a global investment manager within operations. She graduated from Aston University with a first-class degree in Business Management, with a placement year spent at a multinational technology company. She holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Remi Akinbode: Product Analyst
Remi joined AJ Bell Securities in 2022 working with the Dealing Services Team providing execution-only services to retail investors. He worked as Team Leader before joining the AJ Bell Investments Team in November 2024. Prior to joining AJ Bell, Remi managed a portfolio of rental properties. Remi holds the CISI Investment Operations Certificate and was honoured with the CISI Presidents award for his final unit, he is currently working towards CFA Investment Management Certificate.
Jack Shorrock: Product Analyst
Jack first joined AJ Bell in March 2021 on the Customer Support Team, after obtaining a second-class degree in Business Economics from Leeds Beckett University. He spent 18 months on the team assisting customers, before joining the AJ Bell Investments Team in September 2022. Jack has completed the CISI Investment Operations Certificate (IOC) and holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC)
Kieran Ferguson: Product Analyst
Kieran joined AJ Bell in February 2018 working in customer services before moving onto become a transaction reporting specialist. During that time, he implemented operational and system changes across the business. He graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University with a second-class degree in Economics and Banking, and has completed the CISI Investment Operations Certificate (IOC). Now he is currently studying towards the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Jan Slavicek: Investment Analyst
Jan joined AJ Bell in September 2024, bringing over 14 years of experience in investment management and analysis. Prior to joining AJ Bell, he held senior roles at an Australian Insurance company, where he contributed to strategic asset allocation decisions, portfolio modelling, and investment performance analysis across multi-asset portfolios. Jan has also worked at an Australian multinational bank, where he was responsible for investment compliance, performance reporting, and risk management. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and has completed the first level of the CFA program.
Manan Goyal: Junior Portfolio Manager
Manan joined us after completing his Master's degree in Market and Quantitative Finance from Emlyon Business School. He initially joined as an Investments Intern in 2021, moving on to being a Junior Portfolio Analyst in the Investment Management Team, before being promoted to Investment Analyst in 2023. He holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).
Jack Fairbrother: Portfolio Manager
Jack joined the AJ Bell Investments team as a Portfolio Manager in July 2024 having previously worked in the Risk department as an Investment Risk Specialist for over two years. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Campbellsville University in the United States and has passed the CFA Level III Exam.
Harry Lynch: Junior Investment Analyst
Harry joined us in March 2024 as a Junior Investment Analyst, previously working for a large discretionary investment manager in operations. He has a first-class degree in Chemistry with Honours from Liverpool University, during which he did a work placement at a boutique MPS provider. He holds the Investment Management Certificate.