Hiring from the Best

Ascalon Capital, a leading investment consultancy, has made two significant hires from top research houses, Zenith Investment Partners and Lonsec. The appointments are a testament to the firm’s commitment to attracting the best talent in the industry. This move will not only enhance Ascalon’s capabilities but also provide a competitive edge in the market.

Meet the New Faces

• Berit Deagan, formerly of Zenith Investment Partners, has been appointed as head of business development. She brings with her five years of experience in the business development team at Zenith.
• John Burton, formerly of Lonsec, has been appointed as head of business solutions. He boasts nearly four years of experience as head of sales at Lonsec.

Experienced Leaders Join Ascalon Capital

Berit Deagan, who spent five years at Zenith in its business development team, has been appointed as head of business development. She joined Zenith in December 2019 as a Business Development Manager (BDM) from four years at investment bank Goldman Sachs. She was promoted to senior BDM in March 2024. This is the second hire for Ascalon from Zenith as earlier this year the firm appointed Ben Davis, a founding partner of Zenith back in 2005 and spent 20 years with the business in a variety of roles. At the investment house he now focuses on leading its strategic investment consulting work. Secondly, Ascalon has also appointed John Burton as head of business solutions. Burton was formerly head of sales at Lonsec for almost four years and previously held senior roles at BT and MLC.

Leadership and Expertise

Ascalon chief executive, Aubrey Roga, said: “Berit and John bring decades of industry experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities advisers face every day. Their commercial insight, collaborative mindset, and client-first approach align perfectly with our mission: to work alongside our partners to grow, evolve, and thrive together.”

Succession Planning

It is not known who will be taking over their roles at Zenith and Lonsec. The appointments may raise questions about succession planning and the future of the two research houses.

Internal Promotion at Zenith

Meanwhile, back at Zenith, Damien Hennessy has been promoted to investment director. He previously held the role of head of asset allocation and strategy which he took up in March 2021. Prior to joining Zenith, he spent 20 years as a director at investment strategy and asset allocation consulting firm Heuristic Investment Systems, which was acquired by Zenith in 2021. He also worked as chief investment officer for HSBC Asset Management Australia. In the new role, he will head Zenith’s portfolio solutions and asset allocation teams and drive its dynamic asset allocation insights and macroeconomic strategy.

“My title has changed, but the same high-quality work continues, and I’m looking forward to the next phase – continuing to work with our team and clients on portfolio construction, asset allocation and broader investment strategy.” – Damien Hennessy

Expert Insights

Writing on LinkedIn, Damien Hennessy said that his title has changed, but the same high-quality work continues. He is looking forward to the next phase and continuing to work with his team and clients on portfolio construction, asset allocation, and broader investment strategy.

Decades of Industry Experience

The appointments of Berit Deagan and John Burton bring decades of industry experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities advisers face every day. Their commercial insight, collaborative mindset, and client-first approach align perfectly with Ascalon’s mission. Definition: Client-first approach refers to a business strategy that prioritizes the needs and interests of clients above those of the company or organization.

Alignment with Ascalon’s Mission

Ascalon chief executive, Aubrey Roga, stated that Berit and John bring decades of industry experience and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities advisers face every day. Their commercial insight, collaborative mindset, and client-first approach align perfectly with Ascalon’s mission to work alongside partners to grow, evolve, and thrive together.

Looking to the Future

As the appointments take effect, Ascalon Capital will be well-equipped to tackle the challenges and opportunities in the investment industry. With Berit Deagan and John Burton on board, the firm is poised for success and growth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the appointments of Berit Deagan and John Burton from research houses Zenith Investment Partners and Lonsec demonstrate Ascalon Capital’s commitment to attracting top talent in the industry. With their combined decades of experience and expertise, the firm is well-positioned to drive growth and success in the investment industry.