Last checked at 
24 Aug 2020 07:30
24 August 2020
Change in Portfolio Manager
Schroder AsiaPacific Fund plc (the "Company") announces that Matthew Dobbs will retire from fund management in 2021. In accordance with a succession plan agreed with the Board, he will hand over responsibility of the Company's portfolio to Richard Sennitt as manager and Abbas Barkhordar as assistant manager.
Richard and Abbas will be assuming formal responsibility for the management of the Company's portfolio with effect from 31 March 2021.
The key to these appointments is the continuity of approach they will bring to the investment strategy with Richard having worked with Matthew on his Asian funds for the last 13 years. Abbas has worked at Schroders for 13 years, most recently on Schroders' Frontier Markets Fund.
Robin Parbrook, who has extensive Asian investment management experience, will assume investment oversight from 31 March 2021 and take the investment reporting line of Richard and Abbas.
In managing the portfolio, Richard and Abbas will continue to draw upon Schroders' deep resources in Asia and the research team based across the region will continue to play an integral role. Research remains key to Schroders' investment process, and the portfolio managers will continue to work closely with a strong network of regional analysts and their fund management colleagues in 8 offices around the region.
The Chairman, Nicholas Smith, commented:
"Matthew has managed our portfolio since the Company's launch 25 years ago and the Board would like to thank him for his outstanding contribution to establishing the Company in the FTSE 250 and as the largest in its AIC Sector. We wish him well for his retirement. Richard is the natural successor to bring a continuity of approach, having worked so closely with Matthew for the last 13 years and bringing his own impressive track record. Abbas brings fresh perspective whilst having also been fully immersed in the Schroders approach for a number of years. The Board believes that these arrangements put in place the resources required to ensure the long-term success of the Company."
Enquiries:
Nicholas Smith
Chairman 020 7658 3206
John Spedding
Head of Investment Trusts, Schroders 07795 126612
This announcement is deemed by the Company to contain inside information as defined under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014.