People: Evelyn Partners; Albert Goodman

Matthew Spencer, Evelyn Partners

Wealth and investment management firm Evelyn Partners has made a senior addition to its investment management leadership team with the appointment of Matthew Spencer. 

Spencer is joining the wealth manager, which has £62.7bn of assets under management, as head of intermediaries and will report to chief investment management director Chris Kenny. 

He will take over from Craig Wright, head of UK IFA, who is returning home to Australia in the new year.  

Spencer brings extensive business development, strategy and marketing expertise to Evelyn from his almost 40-year career in the wealth management industry in a variety of senior leadership roles. 

Key positions over the past decade include head of business development and marketing at Close Brothers Asset Management, head of intermediaries at Deutsche Bank and head of business development at Coutts & Co. 

Kenny said: “We are very excited that Matthew has decided to join us, bringing his great industry insight and expertise to our fast-growing offering to IFAs and other intermediaries. Growing our presence with financial advisers is a key part of Evelyn Partners’ strategic growth plans. His extensive industry knowledge will add to the momentum our existing team have built up over the past year and set us on the right path as we navigate into 2025. 

“Craig Wright has made an enormous contribution to Evelyn Partners over the past 17 years and will leave the company at the end of Q1 as a friend to whom we owe so much after making the decision to return to his home in Australia. We are delighted that Matthew will build upon Craig’s legacy in 2025 and continue to reflect our ambition to rapidly grow our visibility and presence amongst IFAs and intermediaries.” 

Spencer said: “Joining Evelyn Partners as Head of Intermediaries is an exciting opportunity to foster relationships developed through our award-winning investment propositions and innovative solutions. I am looking forward to working alongside Chris Kenny and the wider team as we look towards building on the great work Craig has already delivered over the past few years.”

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South West-based chartered accounting firm Albert Goodman has announced the appointment of Dawn Baker, who joins the Bristol office as partner, practice protection and forensic services.

Her appointment is a significant hire that bolsters Albert Goodman’s service offerings in forensic accounting.

As an alumnus of Exeter University, Baker has lived in the South West for over 25 years. She joins Albert Goodman from BDO and prior to that, worked for KPMG for a total of 17 years and at Smith & Williamson (now Evelyn Partners) for two years. 

During her career, she has gained considerable experience of forensic accounting, expert witness cases, regulatory compliance, fraud investigations and risk management.

She said: “Albert Goodman has an outstanding reputation across the South West, built up for over a century. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my larger firm experience to Albert Goodman, whilst enjoying the benefits of adopting a more personal approach to client service that comes from working for a smaller firm.”

Chris Walford, partner and Bristol office lead at Albert Goodman, said: “Dawn brings a significant skillset and a high level of expertise to the table. Her experience in regulatory compliance and forensic services, combined with a passion for developing people will be invaluable to the team, as we look to always innovate and provide the best possible service to our clients.”  

As well as a central Bristol office on King Street, Albert Goodman’s other locations include its Taunton HQ, Yeovil, Weston-super-Mare and Weymouth.