UK - Syndicate Asset Management (SAM), the £1.3bn (€1.9bn) AIM-quoted fund specialist group, has appointed Michael Campbell-Birkett as group chief executive officer with immediate effect.

Campbell-Birkett, 44, is not replacing anyone in his new position. According to a spokesperson, SAM has been searching for a long time for the right person to fulfil the role.

His new responsibilities will include taking SAM forward via acquisitions and the organic growth of the acquired companies, said the spokesperson.

Prior to joining SAM, Campbell-Birkett was chief executive of UK investment bank Minster Trust, a subsidiary of French mutual insurance group Groupama.

During his tenure at Minster he sat on Groupama’s supervisory board and spearheaded a strategic review of the group’s banking and fund management businesses. He was also chairman of the Groupama International Umbrella Fund.

SAM, which floated in September 2005, was established to build a fund management group by consolidating numerous existing fund management companies, and allowing the pursuit of individual business strategies while enjoying the economic advantage of being part of a larger group.