Fund notifications

Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders - fund manager change

Stewart Investors has announced that David Gait and Sashi Reddy, lead manager and co-manager of the Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders fund, have left the business with immediate effect. Sujaya Desai, a senior analyst in the team, has also departed.
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Important information - This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.

Doug Ledingham will become lead manager of the fund. He’ll be supported by co-manager Jack Nelson.

Ledingham joined the team in 2013 and has fund management experience on Asia Pacific funds. Nelson joined Stewart Investors in 2011 and has most recently been lead fund manager of the group’s Global Emerging Markets funds.

Our view

The team at Stewart Investors has typically been stable over the years and it’s unusual to see senior members of the team leave the business.

The departure of Sashi Reddy and David Gait is disappointing. They’re both experienced investors with long track records of investing across Asia. As two of the longest-serving team members, they’ve been crucial in developing the culture of stewardship amongst the wider team. This investment philosophy is one we hold in high regard.

Doug Ledingham and Jack Nelson have gained valuable fund management experience in their time at Stewart Investors, including managing funds that invest broadly across Asia and emerging markets. The loss of two senior investors also means that Ledingham and Nelson are assuming responsibility for other funds run by the team. This increased workload could detract from the amount of time spent on each fund.

The news of Reddy and Gait’s departures from Stewart Investors leaves only a short timescale for Nelson and Ledingham to take on the additional responsibilities.

The Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders fund doesn’t currently feature on the Wealth Shortlist. We will continue to monitor performance and any changes and inform investors if our views change.

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. Investments go up and down in value so you could get back less than you invest.

For more details on the fund, including its risks and charges, use the links to the factsheet and key investor information.

Annual performance growth

Jul 20 -

Jul 21

Jul 21 -

Jul 22

Jul 22 -

Jul 23

Jul 23 -

Jul 24

Jul 24 -

Jul 25

Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Leaders

23.06%

-0.50%

-1.09%

11.96%

-5.21%

MSCI AC Asia Pacific ex Japan

14.12%

-5.90%

1.15%

7.57%

15.29%

Past performance isn't a guide to future returns.
Source: Lipper IM to 31/07/2025.
Important information - Please remember the value of investments, and any income from them, can fall as well as rise so you could get back less than you invest. This article is provided to help you make your own investment decisions, it is not advice. If you are unsure of the suitability of an investment for your circumstances please seek advice. No news or research item is a personal recommendation to deal.
Written by
Tom-James.png
Tom James
Investment Analyst

Tom joined the Fund Research Team in 2024 and is responsible for analysing funds across Asia and emerging markets. Prior to this he worked at a financial publishers, leading quantitative analysis on fund and portfolio manager performance.

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Article history
Published: 28th August 2025