Salford-based investment platform giant AJ Bell said it has strengthened its investments team with three new appointments spanning investment strategy, fund research and portfolio management.
Hilary Winn joins as investments director in a newly created role, reporting to AJ Bell Investments managing director Ryan Hughes. She will lead investment strategy and asset allocation across AJ Bell’s multi-asset portfolios.
“Hilary brings extensive investment industry experience,” said AJ Bell. “Most recently, she was investment director at Mercer, where she played a pivotal role in asset allocation and portfolio management for the private wealth business.
“She previously served as investment director at JLT Group, with responsibility for private client and institutional investment mandates.”
AJ Bell is also expanding its capabilities in bespoke portfolio solutions and fund research with two further appointments.
Nellis Kromhout joins as senior portfolio manager, adding further depth to AJ Bell’s Partnership MPS (Managed Portfolio Service) proposition.
He arrives from Standard Life, where he was a senior research specialist, having previously spent over a decade at Atomos (formerly Sanlam), managing MPS portfolios and leading fund research activities.
He will help deliver bespoke MPS solutions for adviser firms and support the continued growth of the AJ Bell Partnership MPS business.
Guilherme Pampolin joins AJ Bell as a research analyst, strengthening the team’s coverage of active funds. He joins from Titan Square Mile, where he researched equity and fixed income funds as part of its fund research team.
Together, the appointments bolster AJ Bell Investments’ senior expertise and research and portfolio management capability as the business continues to scale.
Assets under management at AJ Bell’s investment business grew 41% in the year to June 2026, reaching £11.4 billion. AJ Bell’s assets under administration (AUA) have risen to £121.5 billion, up 26% over the last year.
Ryan Hughes, AJ Bell Investments managing director, said: “AJ Bell Investments is going from strength to strength. Assets under management have grown by 41% over the past year to £11.4 billion, driven by increasing demand from retail customers and financial advisers for our simple, easy to use and low-cost investment solutions.
“These appointments deepen our expertise across investment strategy, fund research and portfolio management, giving us an even stronger platform from which to scale the business, broaden our proposition and deliver consistently strong outcomes for customers.”
Winn said: “I’m thrilled to be joining AJ Bell at such an exciting stage in the growth of its investments business. The team has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, straightforward investment solutions, and I look forward to adding my experience to our award-winning investment approach and continuing to deliver great outcomes for customers.”
Kromhout said: “AJ Bell has built a strong reputation for supporting advisers and recognising that different firms have different needs. As more firms look for flexible investment solutions tailored to their business and clients, there is a growing opportunity for bespoke MPS.
“It’s a great time to be joining the team, and I look forward to helping advisers develop investment solutions that reflect their individual approach and meet the evolving needs of their clients.”
Pampolin said: “I’m delighted to be joining a growing business with such a strong reputation, led by an experienced and highly capable leadership team. I look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success by helping deliver high-quality investment solutions across both equity and fixed income portfolios.”