UK - Dean Buckley has been named as the new chief executive of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP), almost 10 months after the position became vacant.

Buckley had been chief executive of HSBC Investments in the UK and Middle East since 2001 but the firm announced on October 25 he was stepping down as CEO of the UK investment operations "to pursue opportunities outside HSBC".

He is now joining the Scottish Widows Board and take up his new role in early January - a position which has essentially been open since the planned departure of Chris Phillips earlier this year.

Phillips had announced in January he was planning to move to Morley as ceo of the investment house, but then died in April in a freak accident during a walking holiday in Spain.

SWIP also lost Chris Walker, the firm's managing director earlier this year, as he left the firm "to pursue other interests". (See earlier IPE story: SWIP loses another key player)

Buckley's departure from HSBC was announced as part of a restructuring of its investment operations, which saw Caroline Brousse was promoted to the new position of ceo of HSBC Investments, Europe.

She took on responsibility for the UK division last month, andSimeon Brown, previously chief operating officer, is acting CEO for the UK operation at HSBC Investments.

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