The hidden talent in asset management

By Joss Murphy on 27 April 2026 in Equities

Superstar fund managers were hugely popular a decade ago. Heavily promoted by their investment houses, they enjoyed rock star status in the media. But times have changed. The failure of some very high-profile names and a greater focus on team-based approaches mean they have a lower profile.

Some fly under the radar because they are young, others because they work at smaller, boutique operations or run portfolios in less popular sectors. Here we highlight six talented individuals who may not be household names – but are at the helm of funds that could be worth a place in your portfolio.

Saurabh Sharma

Saurabh is part of the thematic investing team at Regnan and a fund manager on this portfolio alongside Bertrand Lecourt. He was previously an assistant portfolio manager on the Fidelity Water & Waste strategy and an investment director in Fidelity’s equity team. Saurabh’s early career included roles as an equity research analyst at Moody’s Analytics from 2011 to 2014 and at Global Data from 2010 to 2011.

The Regnan Sustainable Water and Waste fund invests in the shares of sustainable companies that provide solutions to global water and/or waste-related challenges. We believe this portfolio, which was launched just under five years ago, benefits from the experience of Bertrand, Saurabh, and the rest of the team. They have extensive knowledge and expertise in these areas and can lay claim to having pioneered the combination of water and waste stocks.

Jonathan Golan

Jonathan, who holds an MSc in Financial Economics from Oxford University and a BA in Economics from The Hebrew University, previously worked at Schroders. He has delivered in a variety of market conditions. This makes him impossible to ignore. Jonathan’s undoubtedly one of the most exciting young fund managers operating in the market today, and this fund is already off to an exceptional start.

Jeremy Wharton

Church House may be one of the lesser-known industry names, but it still boasts funds – and managers – that are worth considering. Jeremy is one of the standout names at the independent house that he joined in 2004. In addition to serving as CEO and CIO, he leads the fixed-income investment strategies. He previously enjoyed a 14-year career in the City, where he worked in the gilt market and co-founded an independent gilt broker. He also spent five years investing in derivatives.

The IFSL Church House Investment Grade Fixed Interest fund, which Jeremy has run for more than two decades, focuses on high-quality credits. It’s not managed to a particular benchmark. The aim is to provide a steady, low-volatility, quarterly income stream for investors. This sees Jeremy and his team embracing investment grade corporate bonds, UK Gilts and supranational bonds. We feel this fund should be a strong candidate for the core of an investor’s portfolio, and like how Jeremy uses his extensive experience to strategically manage duration and liquidity.

Olivia Micklem

Olivia, who studied English Language and Literature at Oxford University, graduating in 2006, is now an established part of the respected Artemis US team. The stated aim of the Artemis US Smaller Companies fund is to “harness the diverse growth opportunities” of smaller US firms. It has delivered long-term performance in excess of its benchmark, the Russell 2000. We believe this suggests a highly repeatable process that can continue to perform well.

Samantha Fitzpatrick and Martin Connaghan

It’s fair to say that investment trust managers are generally less well-known to the public than their open-ended counterparts. However, that doesn’t mean they should be overlooked. Samantha Fitzpatrick and Martin Connaghan are the current custodians of the Murray International Trust, a globally diversified portfolio established in 1907. While they’ve only been at the helm since veteran manager Bruce Stout’s retirement in June 2024, both have clocked up many years of investment experience.

Samantha joined the company in 2001 through the acquisition of Murray Johnstone, where she served as a Performance and Risk Analyst. Martin, meanwhile, had joined Murray Johnstone in 1998 and became part of Aberdeen via the same 2001 acquisition. We believe this trust may suit investors with long-term investment horizons seeking income and growth from global markets.