Less than two years after taking up the role, the chief executive at JO Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) is leaving the company with immediate effect.
JO Hambro confirmed Ken Lambden’s departure in a statement but did not provide details of the reasons behind his decision to leave. Lambden has been placed on gardening leave for his six-month notice period.
Emilio Gonzalez, the chief executive officer Pendal Group, JO Hambro’s Australian parent company, will serve as acting CEO at JO Hambro until a replacement has been found. Gonzalez will temporarily relocate from Sydney to London for the role as the search a permanent replacement takes place.
“We thank Ken for his hard work and commitment in leading the JOHCM business and wish him every success in his future endeavours,” Gonzalez said in the statement. “Importantly, there are no changes to JOHCM’s investment teams, investment autonomy or any other aspect of JOHCM’s successful investment-led model.”
Lambden was appointed CEO at JO Hambro Capital Management in October 2016, succeeding Gavin Rochussen, who was promoted to a senior role with the firm’s parent company, and then eventually appointed chief executive at Polar Capital in July 2017.
He has also held various senior positions on the buy-side, including chief investment officer at Barings Asset Management and global head of equities at Schroders. Lambden first joined Schroders in 1998 as head of Australian equities and after almost six years in the role was promoted to CEO of Schroders in Australia.
Earlier this year, JO Hambro’s parent group rebranded from BT Investment Management to become Pendal Group. The firm said at the time that the rebrand was an opportunity to articulate its vision and purpose.