Our People
Our services are delivered by skilled investment professionals and we continue to grow our business through the reputation of our people.
Our investment managers, pensions and financial planners, and tax and legal specialists are listed below as well as our Board and Executive team. Alternatively, please call 020 7399 0000 to arrange to speak to one of our team.

Andy Pitt
Head of Charities
Andy Pitt
Head of Charities
London
Andy graduated from Exeter University with a first class honours degree in Chemistry and Law, and subsequently spent three years as a solicitor in the corporate finance team at Freshfields in the early 1990s.
Andy joined Rathbones in June 2014 following his previous role as head of charities at Newton Investment Management. Andy has also worked at Schroder Investment Management and UBS Wealth Management, and during his career has managed investment portfolios for a wide variety of charities and other not-for-profit organisations, as well as individuals, trusts and corporates.
Andy is a visiting lecturer at the Cass Business School (Centre for Charity Effectiveness), and an external member of the Investment Committee of the Dunhill Medical Trust. He is also an Associate Member of the CFA Society of the UK (ASIP) and a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI). Andy is a keen sportsman with interests in skiing, horses and tennis, whilst enjoying time spent in the garden and with his family.
Andy graduated from Exeter University with a first class honours degree in Chemistry and Law, and subsequently spent three years as a solicitor in the corporate finance team at Freshfields in the early 1990s.
Andy joined Rathbones in June 2014 following his previous role as head of charities at Newton Investment Management. Andy has also worked at Schroder Investment Management and UBS Wealth Management, and during his career has managed investment portfolios for a wide variety of charities and other not-for-profit organisations, as well as individuals, trusts and corporates.
Andy is a visiting lecturer at the Cass Business School (Centre for Charity Effectiveness), and an external member of the Investment Committee of the Dunhill Medical Trust. He is also an Associate Member of the CFA Society of the UK (ASIP) and a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI). Andy is a keen sportsman with interests in skiing, horses and tennis, whilst enjoying time spent in the garden and with his family.

Adrian Maxwell
Head of Charities, Liverpool
Adrian Maxwell
Head of Charities, Liverpool
Liverpool
Adrian joined Rathbones in 2004 after graduating from the University of Liverpool with an honours degree in Financial Economics and is currently Head of Charities in Liverpool.
He specialises in the management of charity portfolios, as well as managing private clients’ assets including ISAs, SIPPs and trusts.
Adrian is a CFA charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst) as well as a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). He is a member of Rathbones group Stock Selection Committee and chairs the Charity Fixed Income and Collectives Committee.
Adrian joined Rathbones in 2004 after graduating from the University of Liverpool with an honours degree in Financial Economics and is currently Head of Charities in Liverpool.
He specialises in the management of charity portfolios, as well as managing private clients’ assets including ISAs, SIPPs and trusts.
Adrian is a CFA charterholder (Chartered Financial Analyst) as well as a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI). He is a member of Rathbones group Stock Selection Committee and chairs the Charity Fixed Income and Collectives Committee.

Fiona Gillespie
Head of charities, Scotland
Fiona Gillespie
Head of charities, Scotland
Edinburgh
Fiona joined Rathbones in October 2019 following her previous role as a senior investment manager at Anderson Strathern Asset Management. Previous to that, Fiona spent 24 years at Edinburgh Fund Managers and then Aberdeen Asset Management following their acquisition, where she had principal responsibility for managing multi asset mandates for Charity clients.
Fiona is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals, and Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.
She sits as a Trustee of Medical Research Scotland, Trustee of the Stafford Trust and Treasurer/Trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Fiona is also a member of the Future Asset Steering Committee. Until recently, Fiona was also non-executive director of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) for over 6 years, stepping down in June of 2020.
Fiona joined Rathbones in October 2019 following her previous role as a senior investment manager at Anderson Strathern Asset Management. Previous to that, Fiona spent 24 years at Edinburgh Fund Managers and then Aberdeen Asset Management following their acquisition, where she had principal responsibility for managing multi asset mandates for Charity clients.
Fiona is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals, and Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.
She sits as a Trustee of Medical Research Scotland, Trustee of the Stafford Trust and Treasurer/Trustee of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO). Fiona is also a member of the Future Asset Steering Committee. Until recently, Fiona was also non-executive director of Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) for over 6 years, stepping down in June of 2020.

James Ayre
Head of Investments, Charities
James Ayre
Head of Investments, Charities
London
James joined Rathbones in 2023 as Head of Investments, Charities, following his previous role as Co-Head of Investments at CCLA Investment Management, where he was responsible for the management of their multi-asset and global equity funds.
James has a BA in History from Leicester University, is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI) and holds a Certificate in Business Accounting.
James joined Rathbones in 2023 as Head of Investments, Charities, following his previous role as Co-Head of Investments at CCLA Investment Management, where he was responsible for the management of their multi-asset and global equity funds.
James has a BA in History from Leicester University, is a Chartered Fellow of the CISI (FCSI) and holds a Certificate in Business Accounting.

Gemma Gooch
Head of Charities Distribution
Gemma Gooch
Head of Charities Distribution
London
Gemma joined Rathbones as Head of Charities Distribution in February 2025.
She was previously Co-Head of Global Social Impact at BlackRock and Co-President of The BlackRock Foundation where she led on strategic philanthropic partnerships in financial security and sustainability. Gemma was formerly Head of BlackRock’s dedicated Charities & Endowments Team, a leading institutional non-profit investment manager. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2016, she was a Partner at NewSmith Asset Management responsible for marketing and business development. She started her career as an Analyst at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
Gemma holds an MA degree in Geography from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. She has been a Trustee of The Girls’ Network Charity, a school Community Governor and volunteers as a Funding Panellist with The Fore and Mentor with the King’s Trust.
Gemma joined Rathbones as Head of Charities Distribution in February 2025.
She was previously Co-Head of Global Social Impact at BlackRock and Co-President of The BlackRock Foundation where she led on strategic philanthropic partnerships in financial security and sustainability. Gemma was formerly Head of BlackRock’s dedicated Charities & Endowments Team, a leading institutional non-profit investment manager. Prior to joining BlackRock in 2016, she was a Partner at NewSmith Asset Management responsible for marketing and business development. She started her career as an Analyst at Merrill Lynch Investment Managers.
Gemma holds an MA degree in Geography from St Catharine’s College, Cambridge. She has been a Trustee of The Girls’ Network Charity, a school Community Governor and volunteers as a Funding Panellist with The Fore and Mentor with the King’s Trust.

Natalie Yapp
Business Development Director, Charities
Natalie Yapp
Business Development Director, Charities
London
Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations.
Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader.
Natalie joined Rathbones in 2020 as head of business development, charities, following her previous role as business development manager at Brewin Dolphin. Natalie has also worked at Heartwood Investment Management and specialises in charities, trust and other not-for-profit organisations.
Natalie is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments (CISI). She holds a master's degree in Drama and Movement Therapy and achieved the Investment Management Certificate in 2016. She also holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management. Natalie is also an ambassador for Girls are Investors and a Girl Guiding leader.

Mark O'Connor
Business Development Director, Charities
Mark O'Connor
Business Development Director, Charities
London
My role as Business Development Director, Charities is to help ensure that Rathbones best serves the needs of charities. The key to this is listening and really understanding their needs. While charities often have similar investment requirements, each is unique and will have particular needs that are important to them. We discuss these needs with our investment team, who can then develop a bespoke solution for each charity.
An important aspect of my role is to ensure that charities know about Rathbones. So, I will look to promote the Rathbones name and seek to involve us in industry events that are useful for charities - such as conferences, roundtable events and training seminars. I also work with the charity consultant community, to ensure they remain up to speed with all Rathbones' charity team developments, so they can confidently recommend Rathbones to their clients.
My role as Business Development Director, Charities is to help ensure that Rathbones best serves the needs of charities. The key to this is listening and really understanding their needs. While charities often have similar investment requirements, each is unique and will have particular needs that are important to them. We discuss these needs with our investment team, who can then develop a bespoke solution for each charity.
An important aspect of my role is to ensure that charities know about Rathbones. So, I will look to promote the Rathbones name and seek to involve us in industry events that are useful for charities - such as conferences, roundtable events and training seminars. I also work with the charity consultant community, to ensure they remain up to speed with all Rathbones' charity team developments, so they can confidently recommend Rathbones to their clients.

Melanie Wotherspoon
Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development
Melanie Wotherspoon
Head of Professional Intermediary Business Development
London
Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.
Melanie joined Rathbones in 2014 after spending the previous seven years at Jupiter. Prior to that, she was at Baring Asset Management, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell and EY. She gained international experience working for HSBC in Hong Kong, San Francisco and Mumbai. Melanie is a Chartered Accountant, has a degree in Systems and Management from City University, London and is a Chartered Member of the CISI. She is both a trustee and member of the Investment Committee for the Francis C Scott Charitable Trust that commits over £1m a year to areas of deprivation in Cumbria and North Lancashire. Melanie is also a member of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Accountants.

Alex Dow
Investment director
Alex Dow
Investment director
London
Alex is an investment director, he has a joint honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from UEA. Alex is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, holding the Diploma, and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.
Prior to joining Rathbones in December 2007, Alex worked at HSBC Investments (formerly James Capel) for eight years managing investment portfolios for charities and private clients. At HSBC Alex was a member of the UK Stock Committee and specifically covered the engineering, aerospace and defence sectors.
Alex is an investment director, he has a joint honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from UEA. Alex is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, holding the Diploma, and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst charterholder.
Prior to joining Rathbones in December 2007, Alex worked at HSBC Investments (formerly James Capel) for eight years managing investment portfolios for charities and private clients. At HSBC Alex was a member of the UK Stock Committee and specifically covered the engineering, aerospace and defence sectors.