Rathbones Strengthens Group Executive Leadership for Next Phase

12 November 2025 | Rathbones Group, one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset management firms, is bringing new talent into its leadership team to build on its successful integration with Investec Wealth & Investments UK (IW&I) and deliver growth as a leader in UK wealth. All the new senior hires are subject to regulatory approval.

The move follows decisions by Sarah Owen-Jones to retire as Chief Risk Officer after over ten years with the firm, and Andy Brodie, Chief Operating Officer, and Gaynor Gillespie, Chief People Officer, to pursue opportunities elsewhere. 

“I want to thank Sarah, Andy and Gaynor personally for their huge contribution to Rathbones,” Jonathan Sorrell, Chief Executive Officer of Rathbones Group, said. “In their time at the firm they have scaled their respective functions and played immensely important roles to deliver the successful integration of Rathbones and IW&I and position us for our next phase.”

Cassandra Williams joins Rathbones this week as Chief Risk Officer designate and Compliance Officer. Previously at HSBC, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Investec UK and the Financial Services Authority, Cassandra has had a career of more than 20 years in risk and compliance with leadership roles in both London and Sydney. 

Later this month Gillian Van Maaren will join as Chief People Officer, following a career across global asset management, hedge funds, and wealth management. She has led people strategies through growth and transformation, including 15 years at Jupiter Asset Management, where she was HR Director. 

Andy Brodie’s role will be split, recognising its scale and breadth. On 1 December, Mike Turner will join Rathbones as Chief Operating Officer, responsible for Operations and Strategic Projects. He joins from consultancy, recently working with Rathbones, and previously held leadership roles in asset management, including at Man Group. Brad Novak will join as Chief Technology Officer on 2 January after senior leadership roles at companies including Barclays and Credit Suisse. 

“I am delighted to welcome such talented new senior colleagues to the leadership team at Rathbones,” Mr Sorrell continued. “They all take on their responsibilities subject to regulatory approval and will work closely with new and outgoing colleagues in coming months to ensure a smooth transition as they get to know the firm.”

For further detail on the incoming executives please see short biographies below. 

Notes to Editors: 

Gillian van Maaren

Gillian’s career spans global asset management, hedge funds, and wealth management, where she has served on executive teams and led people strategies through growth, transformation, and corporate transactions. Previously, she was Partner, Head of HR at Ruffer LLP and prior to that the same at CQS LLP. She spent 15 years at Jupiter Asset Management plc latterly as Group HR Director, supporting the organisation through a management buyout, an IPO and significant global expansion. Gillian holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce with dual majors in Economics and Information Systems, and a Postgraduate Master’s in People Development. She is a qualified Executive Coach (accredited EMCC) and serves as a Trustee of St Mary’s Ascot (Independent Girls’ School) and Non-Executive of Sheffield Haworth plc.

Mike Turner

For the past 18 months, Mike has been working as a consultant providing advice to the asset management and hedge fund industries across all aspects of their business. Previously at Man Group for 16 years, he held a variety of investment, operational and strategic roles including being CEO of Man Solutions from 2017 to 2023. Prior roles include Head of Research at the systematic manager Aspect Capital and as an analyst at Schroder Salomon Smith Barney. Mike holds a degree in Mathematics from Oxford University and a doctorate in Theoretical Physics from Southampton University. He is extremely passionate about social mobility and has acted as a non-executive director of the social mobility membership body Progress Together since 2022.

Brad Novak

Brad is Chief Information Officer (CIO) for a Global Systems Integrator with more than 30 years’ experience in financial services and technology. He has held senior leadership roles at Barclays, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs, driving large-scale technology transformations, cloud adoption initiatives and AI-driven productivity programmes. At Barclays, he served as CTO for the Corporate and Investment Bank and as CIO for Wealth and Investment Management, where he led a £350 million technology modernisation programme. Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Cornell University and holds dual US and UK nationality.

Cassandra Williams 

Cassandra joins from HSBC, where she has spent the last year as Group Head of Regulatory Compliance, Wealth and Personal Banking.  Her risk and compliance career has spanned over 20 years in London and Sydney, with leadership roles across wealth management and banking. These include at RBC Brewin Dolphin, Investec UK, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, online stockbroker CommSec and Australian fintech Afterpay. Cassandra previously spent seven years at the Financial Services Authority in the markets division and the London Stock Exchange.