UK - Robin Geffen, former chief investment officer of New York-based Orbitex Investments, has established a new fund management company, Neptune Investment Management, which has been launched in direct response to Orbitex’s decision to leave the UK.

“I decided that rather than allow Orbitex’s UK funds to close, I would set up an independent company to take them forward. As such, I have retained the same investment strategy, process and team at Neptune,” Geffen comments.

Neptune’s initial range, as inherited from Orbitex, includes one pension fund, three OEICs and two UCITs worth a collective £30m. However, Geffen says Neptune will be ready to launch its own products soon. “We anticipate launching new funds later this year and are about to announce a new mandate win very soon,” he says.

Geffen will be both CIO and managing director of the new London-based company which will initially concentrate on the retail market before targeting institutional pension funds. “As soon as we feel our retail funds have established a proven track record, we will move into the institutional market-place,” he says.

Former chief operating officer at Orbitex, David Gregory, is joining Geffen as Neptune’s COO and company secretary. Prior to joining Orbitex in 2000, Gregory spent six years as chief financial officer (Europe) at HSBC Asset Management.

Geffen joined Orbitex in 1997 as CIO. He began his career in investment management as a graduate trainee at Charterhouse J Rothschild in 1979. Between then and joining Orbitex, he worked at Eagle Star, York Trust and Scottish Equitable, where he was responsible for establishing the pooled fund business.

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