Ignis Asset Management has appointed Mark Lovett as chief investment officer – equities.

Lovett will join Ignis on 4 October and will be responsible for overseeing more than GBP10bn of institutional and retail equity assets across Ignis’ proprietary fund range.

Most recently Lovett was chief investment officer UK and European equities in London for Allianz RCM. He was also chairman of the Allianz RCM asset allocation committee in London and a board member of the London executive committee. Lovett was also a member of Allianz RCM’s seven-strong European management group responsible for the management of all aspects of the investment platform across both London and Frankfurt.

Lovett will report directly to Ignis’ chief investment officer Chris Fellingham, who recently joined from Soros Fund Management.

Fellingham says: “Mark brings a wealth of experience with him and will be responsible for developing Ignis’ equity proposition primarily focusing on the delivery of superior fund performance. Ignis has a number of excellent equity investors and recruiting Mark enables us to build on that strength and drive forward our desire to produce the best possible returns for our clients.”

Lovett adds: “Ignis has taken a significant step forward in recent years and is now well positioned to move to the next phase of its growth strategy. This is an ambitious business that believes growth is best achieved through giving its fund managers the freedom to perform to the best of their ability – a philosophy I wholeheartedly embrace.”