One star rating funds for Investorweb

INVESTORWEB could potentially be left with only one star on its mainstream funds research team, after senior analyst Rodney Sebire announced he would leave the IWL-owned research house at the end of the month to take up a position at Skandia.

When contacted by Money Management Sebire confirmed that if IWL were unable to install a replacement for him by August 31, InvestorWeb’s funds research team would be left with a single researcher.

Investorweb manager of alternative investment research Angela Ashton said the group was looking for a replacement in Sydney and Melbourne and that they are “currently looking at a number of candidates.”

Sebire said finding a replacement in Melbourne could be a tall order for IWL thanks to there being “a bit of a dearth of analysts in Melbourne at the moment”.

“I know [IWL] are trying to recruit at the moment, but so are others. Lonsec are looking for two, Navigator are looking for two.”

However, Investorweb has increased the number of analysts in its alternatives research team, with Murray West joining Ashton in the division.

Sebire said the prospect of working in the front line of funds management was what lured him to Skandia.

“I wanted to get closer to the manufacturing side,” explained Sebire.

“Coming from a research background, you tend to sit more on the periphery.”

“Also, in retail research it’s mainly just product ratings across all manner of products, so you have to spend time with managers who are not best of breed.”