Board

Harry Wells

Non-executive Director and Chairman

Harry Wells has over 40 years' experience of investment markets, primarily as an institutional stockbroker specialising in the Asia Pacific region, based in London and Hong Kong, latterly as a Managing Director of Salomon Smith Barney. He has extensive experience as an investment trust director and was previously Chairman of  Martin Currie Asia Unconstrained Investment Trust PLC and The Establishment Investment Trust PLC. Harry holds an MA degree in Land Economy from Cambridge University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Kate Cornish-Bowden

Non-executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee

Kate worked for Morgan Stanley Investment Management for 12 years, where she was a Managing Director and head of Morgan Stanley Investment Management’s Global Core Equity business. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Kate worked for M&G Investment Management where she spent two years as a research analyst. Kate is a non-executive Director and Senior Independent Director of Schroder Oriental Income Fund Limited, a non-executive Director of Finsbury Growth & Income Trust plc and a non-executive Director of International Biotechnology Trust plc. Kate was formerly Chair of the Audit Committee of Calculus VCT plc. Kate is an Associate of the Institute of Investment Management and Research (formerly AIMR, now Chartered Financial Analyst Institute), holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), and has completed the Financial Times Non-Executive Director Diploma. She is also a Mentor for The Prince’s Trust.

Peter Wolton

Non-executive Director and Senior Independent Director

Peter has wide experience of Japan and the investment trust sector. He was resident in Tokyo from 1994 to 1998 where he was responsible for Schroders’ asset management activities and, from 1996, Schroders’ Country Head. He is a former director of Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust plc, TR Property Investment Trust plc and Schroder Japan Growth Fund plc.

He commenced his career with Savills, qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1980. From 1983 until 2001 he worked for Schroders, specialising in the management of UK equity portfolios for pension funds and charities until 1993 when he was transferred to Japan. From 1998 to 2001 he headed Schroders’ global retail businesses and from 2002 to 2003 was Chief Executive Officer of the Investment Management Group of Baring Asset Management.

Peter has degrees in Land Economy from Cambridge University and Contextual Theology from Middlesex University.

June Aitken (Director)

Non-executive Director

June has over 30 years of experience in Asian and emerging equity markets, and held numerous senior roles at HSBC Bank plc, London and at UBS AG. June is a non-executive director of JP Morgan Asia Growth and Income plc, a non-executive director of Greengage Global Holding, and Chair of PEAL Capital Partners UK Limited. June was previously on the board of HSBC Bank Japan, Aquarius Fund, an Asian fixed income fund, Australian Securities Exchange listed Emerging Markets Masters Fund and the Asian Masters Fund Limited, Erudine Holdings Ltd, a financial software consultancy firm and the Shepherds Bush Housing Group. She was a founding partner and investor of Osmosis Investment Management LLP. June holds a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University and is a member of the Chartered Banker Institute.

Craig Cleland (Director)

Non-executive Director

Craig has over 35 years of investment trust and fund management experience. Since 2013, he has been Head of Corporate Development and Investment Trusts at CQS (UK) LLP, a multi-asset asset management firm in London business with a focus on credit markets.  He is also a Non-Executive Director of Invesco Perpetual Select Trust plc and Blackrock Latin American Investment Trust. Craig also served as a member of the AIC Technical Committee for 10 years and is an Associate of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland. Craig was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited as a Client Director of their investment trust business. He was also Director and Senior Company Secretary at Fleming Investment Trust Management, transferring to JPMorgan Chase after the acquisition of Robert Fleming Holdings Limited.