Reshuffle as Baillie Gifford announces three partner retirements

Baillie Gifford has announced that partner and head of its Japanese Equities team, Sarah Whitley, and Stephen Rodger and Ken Barker, both partners within the firm’s fixed income area, will all step down from the partnership at the end of April next year.

Ms Whitley is the longest standing partner at Edinburgh-based Baillie Gifford, having spent 37 years with the firm, and has managed the Baillie Gifford Japan Trust since 2001.

Following her retirement Matthew Brett will take over as lead portfolio manager, supported by Praveen Kumar as deputy portfolio manager.

Mr Brett will also continue to manage the Baillie Gifford Japanese Fund.

Donald Farquharson will assume Ms Whitley’s responsibilities as head of the Japanese team and continue to manage the Japan Growth strategy.

Stephen Rodger, meanwhile, will retire after over 17 years with the firm.

Gregory Turnbull Schwartz will assume lead responsibility for all investment grade portfolios and Robert Baltzer will continue as head of High Yield.

Torcail Stewart remains manager on the Baillie Gifford Corporate Bond Fund, which he has co-managed alongside Stephen since 2010.

Ken Barker will step down after spending 16 years with Baillie Gifford.

He joined as a fixed income investment manager before moving to the Clients Department in 2007 to focus on fixed income client service.

Andrew Telfer, joint senior partner at Baillie Gifford, said: “Sarah has generated excellent returns for clients over more than three decades and built a significant Japanese equities client base. We would like to thank her for her remarkable dedication to the firm.

“Our sincere thanks also go to Stephen Rodger and Ken Barker for their significant contributions over many years within our fixed income business.

“These retirements are part of the natural evolution of Baillie Gifford’s independent private partnership.”