Schroder Managed Balanced – fund manager change

Schroders has announced that Johanna Kyrklund stepped back from her role as co-manager of the Schroder Managed Balanced fund on 31 March 2025.

Remi Olu-Pitan and Nick Pearson will continue to manage the fund going forward.

Olu-Pitan is Head of Multi-Asset Growth and Income. She started her career in 2006 when she joined Schroders and has handled the day-to-day management of the fund for a number of years. Kyrklund has provided input into asset allocation decisions (how much is invested in company shares and bonds, for example) and important challenge to the way the fund’s invested. Pearson joined Kyrklund and Olu-Pitan to help run the fund in 2022. He’s worked at Schroders since 2015.

Our view

It’s a shame to see Kyrklund step away from her role as a manager of this fund, a position she has held since 2011. That said, it comes as no surprise following her promotion to group Chief Investment Officer (CIO) in September 2024. It’s also been clear in recent years that she’s had less time to spend on fund management activities.

Kyrklund will continue as Chair of the Global Asset Allocation committee. We view this as a positive because the team use the output from that committee as their starting point for where they want to invest the fund. Kyrklund will therefore continue to have indirect input into the fund, both from this role and in her role as group CIO.

Olu-Pitan has managed the fund alongside Kyrklund since 2011. She’s an experienced multi-asset investor and knows the fund’s investment process and philosophy well. As a result, we don’t expect any significant change to how the fund’s managed.  

Pearson’s involvement has been linked to Kyrklund’s reduced input in recent years. We view this as sensible succession planning and think that Olu-Pitan and Pearson combined have plenty of knowledge and experience to manage the fund going forward.

The fund therefore remains on the Wealth Shortlist of funds chosen by our analysts for their long-term performance potential.

This isn’t a recommendation to make any changes to a portfolio. Investors should make sure any investments match their investment goals and attitude to risk. If you're not sure if an investment is suitable for your circumstances, please seek advice.

Past performance is not a guide to the future. Source: Lipper IM to 31/05/2025.

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