HEAD-TO-HEAD: Fidelity versus Merian

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Manager review

The Fidelity Global Dividend Fund is run by Daniel Roberts, an experienced portfolio manager who has managed various dividend mandates in the past.

“He joined Fidelity in November 2011 and has run this fund since launch in 2012. Before joining Fidelity, Roberts specialised in UK equity income portfolios at Aviva and Gartmore [before it was acquired by Henderson],” said McDermott.

Roberts does a lot of the stock research himself, but he can also lean on members of a five-strong regional dividend team, as well as the firm’s well-respected wider analytics capabilities.

The leading figure at the Merian fund is Ian Heslop, who joined the firm in 2000 (when it was part of Old Mutual) and he is head of global equities.

“Heslop manages a range of funds and his team has won numerous awards over the years,” said McDermott.

His co-managers for the Global Equity Fund are Mike Servent – who has an Alpha Manager rating from FE Analytics – and Amadeo Alentorn.

“Servent joined the firm in 2004 and co-manages a number of funds within the global equity team. Alentorn arrived in 2005 and combines portfolio management with the job of head of research in the global equity team, said McDermott.

However, they are all actively involved in the investment process from idea generation, academic research, testing and implementation. The team also makes use of a panel of external academic advisors.

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