**Former Gartmore CEO joins Martin Currie**
UK – Former Gartmore chief executive and investment officer, David Watts, has joined the board of independent Edinburgh based investment management group, Martin Currie, as a non-executive director.

Watts has taken on a number of similar roles since leaving Gartmore in November 1999, including a directorship at Fleming Income and Growth Trust, a non-executive directorship at Axa UK and chairmanship of the Merchant Navy ratings pension fund investment committee.


**Towers Perrin appoints senior consultant**
UK – Benefits consultancy firm, Towers Perrin has appointed Clive Ellston as senior consultant to its financial planning group.

Ellston has 25 years experience in the financial services industry and was previously managing director of Berry Birch & Noble Financial Services.


**Payden & Rygel top first Global Investor US fund all-star ranking**
US – Los Angeles based independent fund management firm, Payden & Rygel has been ranked number one in Global Investor magazine’s first Us fund all-star ranking. The rankings, which are produced monthly, gave both Payden & Rygel’s fixed income and equity fund ranges an average of four stars.

A spokeswoman for Payden & Rygel says that the news is proof that the company’s risk management process is working consistently across its investment strategies.


**Forsyth acquires stake in Dubai-based brokerage**
UK / DUBAI - Forsyth Partners, a UK-based international fund manager and rfesearch company is to take a strategic stake in Professional Investment Consultants, a Dubai-based brokerage, with office both in the Middle East and Europe.

Forsyth has worked with PIC for o0ver two years and manages two of its broker funds, as well as handling a number of its direct investments. The alliance is seen as the first step in a plan to outsource the brokerage’s investment management.

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