UK - Griff Williams, senior investment manager at Railpen Investments, has left after just over a year to join Pioneer Investments.

The former Lane Clark & Peacock consultant joined Railpen, which manages the pension assets for the UK rail industry, in June 2005. He joined in London to focus on manager search, selection and monitoring.

He's now joined Pioneer as institutional product strategist, a new role, in London. He'll report to Paul Price, head of international institutional business.

"Griff's investment experience will see him engage in a partnership approach, working closely with the consultant community and our own business and investment units to match Pioneer Investments' product offering to institutional client needs," Pioneer said.

Price said: "Griff is a highly skilled investment professional with an in-depth knowledge of the institutional industry. I am confident that his experience will prove invaluable as part of our team, which is responsible for building meaningful partnerships."