UK - Chris Walker, managing director for international business at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP) has "left to pursue other interests", the company has confirmed.

Simon Wombwell took over management of international business in May so now has overall responsibility for UK and international distribution, according to SWIP officials who have confirmed the firm is not looking to replace Walker.

It is understood Walker, who was originally at Hill Samuel before it merged with Scottish Widows' investment operation, left the company within the last 10 days.

Andre Andrzeisson was appointed head of the Nordic region in May, reporting to Peter Zurhorst, head of northern Europe.

SWIP has expanded its international business in recent years and has secured a number of key institutional clients in the Nordic region, such as AMF, the Swedish life and pensions firm, which appointed it last September for a small cap European equities mandate.

The firm is also currently looking for a new CEO following the departure earlier this year of Chris Philips who also subsequently died.

But it has now appointed Tony Owens as finance director, to take responsibility for SWIP's financial affairs from next week

Owens has moved over from Scottish Widows, where he has been strategy, planning and monitoring director since July 2004.

At the end of May, SWIP said it had increased its institutional assets under management by 22% over the course of 2006 to £26.5bn (€39.4bn).

Chris Walker was unavailable for comment when contacted by IPE.

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