Our spokespeople

Biography

Passionate about, enabling financial wellbeing through the provision of education and advice and increasing diversity within financial services, Alex supports and leads on initiatives to improve financial awareness, to create and open pathways into the profression and is a strong advocate for the value of financial advice.  

A tax lawyer by background, Alex is the Director responsible for delivery of the Group’s investment, banking, financial well-being and private client propositions.  Her work focuses on delivering an integrated investment and advice led proposition, via the SJP Partnership, to individuals and families with the aim of them achieving long-term financial wellbeing.  

Alex is recognised, by SPEAR’s 500 and PAM’s Top 50, as one of the most influential leaders in UK wealth management.  She is also actively involved in Women in Banking and Finance, a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, a school governor and Chair of the School’s Investment Committee.

Biography

Claire Trott is Divisional Director of Retirement & Holistic Planning. Having joined St. James’s Place in 2016, Claire came with extensive experience gained in her 20 year career within the pensions industry.

Claire’s in-depth knowledge is diverse and wide ranging, and has been born from a combination of having previously worked herself as a Financial Adviser dealing with pension transfers, to now helping advisers deal with the complexities of SIPPs and SSAS in a post simplification environment.

In Claire’s capacity as Divisional Director at St. James’s Place, she continues to build on her ability to communicate with various audiences using a wide array of media, and is a regular key spokesperson for the business.

As well as an SJP Divisional Director, Claire is also the Chair of the SIPP and SSAS trade body, the Association of Member-directed Pension Schemes (AMPS).

Biography

As Head of the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, Andy provides leadership and direction to the Academy Field Management Teams who support new Partners and Advisers on their route to joining the St. James's Place Partnership.

Andy’s focus is to ensure the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy delivers outstanding levels of support to all new joiners within UK Financial Services, in the form of face-to-face learning and coaching. This is coupled with virtual support, from teams of specialist Managers across the country.

In addition to heading up the St. James’s Place Financial Adviser Academy, Andy also sits on the St. James’s Place Inclusion & Diversity Steering Committee, and is the Chair of the Establishment Foundation Committee, overseeing volunteering, fundraising and grants to a variety of charitable causes.

Andy joined St. James’s Place in 2014 with over 30 years’ experience in Financial Services across business in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.

Sam Turner is Head of Responsible Investment & Proposition Strategy. Having joined St. James’s Place on our Graduate Programme in 2016, Sam has been leading our responsible investment approach for the past four years.

Sam’s focus is to ensure we are integrating Responsible Investment principles throughout our investment processes, governance committees and team responsibilities - including the way in which we research and monitor our external fund managers. Sam’s remit also includes the wider proposition strategy of our responsible investment approach, including our education programme with the Partnership, implementing new sustainable regulatory requirements and ensuring our client solutions remain relevant and fit for purpose. 

Over the past few years Sam has been responsible for leading our investment net zero commitment, developing are client portfolio carbon footprint report and ensuring all our external fund managers meet our responsible investment standards. 

Sam sits on our Investment Division Proposition Forum Committee and is a member of the Investment Association Sustainable and Responsible Investment Committee.

Biography

Tony Müdd joined St. James’s Place over 29 years ago, and during this time he has held a number of positions including heading up the St. James’s Place technical support function. Presently, Tony works in the capacity of Divisional Director for St. James’s Place Development & Technical Consultancy, overseeing the majority of SJP’s 3rd party proposition: the products and services of which play an essential role in our Partner’s ability to provide full holistic financial advice. Tony also has specific responsibility for St. James’s Place Protection and Long-Term care propositions.

As well as a Divisional Director, Tony is also a Board Member of the Protection Distribution Group and sits on the Advisory Board of The Investing & Savings Alliance (TISA) Social Care.

Dr. Ruggins is an internationally published and awarded researcher with experience in delivering complex research programmes for international stakeholders, including US Senate sub-committee members, on subjects ranging from economic performativity, econometrics, to the evolution of financial engineering. She specialises in designing frameworks to increase the speed and quality of decision making in investment executive teams.

She currently heads the St. James’s Place Multi-Asset Research Team which works across St. James’s Place portfolio construction, asset allocation, and strategic development ecosystems. The team’s purpose is to support the wider Investment Team enhance client outcomes, evaluate emerging opportunities, and make robust decisions. Prior to joining St. James’s Place, Dr. Ruggins was the Principal’s Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and Research Scholar for Queen’s University, Canada. She holds postgraduate degrees in Philosophy of Economics and Financial Sociology.

Justin joined St. James’s Place in October 2023. With more than 20 years’ experience in the investment management industry, Justin leads the development of St. James’s Place’s investment proposition, asset allocation approach and selection of external fund managers. Justin is also chair of the Investment Committee covering the full range of funds at SJP and has responsibility for investment oversight of the discretionary fund management part of the SJP business.

In addition to his former role as Head of Retail Investments, EMEA and Head of Retail Multi-Asset Funds at Legal & General Investment Management, Justin has also held positions at Aviva Investors, Merrill Lynch/Bank of America and Aon Consulting.

Outside of his role at St. James's Place, Justin has also shown leadership throughout the industry championing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion receiving various accolades and recognition. In 2020 Justin was awarded the Honour of the Freedom of the City of London.

Hetal joined St. James’s Place in August 2023 and is responsible for setting the house global economic view and providing input and challenge to the Asset Allocation view. Hetal’s role also encompasses liaising with a range of stakeholders, from our external fund managers to policymakers.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in economics, working across the private and public sector, Hetal has developed a particular interest in monetary and fiscal policy implications.

Prior to joining SJP, Hetal was Senior European Economist at Legal & General Investment Management for 11 years. She has also previously worked at Daiwa Capital Markets, Oxford Economics, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and HM Treasury. Hetal is a member of the Society of Professional Economists and sits on the City Hindus Network Advisory Board.