Threadneedle has announced the appointment of Mark Burgess as its new Chief Investment Officer. He joins Threadneedle in the first quarter of 2011 and will work closely with Sarah Arkle, Threadneedle’s current CIO, as she hands over her role and responsibilities to him. Sarah is retiring in 2011 after a career spanning over 30 years and will become Threadneedle’s Vice Chairman.

Twenty seven years ago Sarah joined Allied Dunbar Asset Management, one of the two businesses which merged to form Threadneedle. In 1994 she was one of Threadneedle’s founding members and in 2000 was appointed Chief Investment Officer.

Mark Burgess joins Threadneedle from Legal & General Investment Management where he was Managing Director, Head of Equities. In that role he was responsible for the business and investment performance of the active equities business, which consisted of 22 fund managers, with £10bn assets under management. He was previously at Deutsche Asset Management for 12 years, where he progressed through Morgan Grenfell Asset Management to be Deutsche’s Managing Director, Head of UK Equity & Balanced Products. Mark has over 25 years experience in fund management across a wide range of classes.

Crispin Henderson, Chief Executive of Threadneedle, commented: ‘I am delighted that Mark Burgess has decided to join Threadneedle at what is an exciting time for the company. We now have a world class, international team that has strength in breadth and depth; Mark joins our senior team for the future that now comprises Don Jordison (MD Property Investments), Campbell Fleming, (Head of Distribution) Leigh Harrison (Head of Equities) and John Devine (Chief Operating Officer).’