Investment manager Rathbones has appointed a new governance and voting analyst, reporting to the company’s stewardship director.

Archie Pearson joins from Oikocredit, having spent three years working as a client executive for the capital raising, investor relations and business development teams.

He will report to Matt Crossman, Rathbones’ stewardship director, who monitors corporate ethical issues and news flow and manages the company’s investee database of company profiles.

“There is an ever-growing recognition of the important role that engagement plays in the investment process,” Crossman said in a statement.

“Archie will provide vital support in promoting the best interests of our clients as part of Rathbones’ stewardship policy.”

Pearson is to be given responsibility for ensuring proxy voting and corporate engagement activities are consistent and informed. The appointment comes as the investment sector, more broadly, looks to strengthen the teams responsible for stewardship, engagement and proxy voting, to keep on top of the growing amount of environmental, social and governance information being provided by investee companies.

Speaking on his appointment, Pearson said he was looking forward to assisting clients with focused engagement strategies.

“Joining a long-established and experienced stewardship team and working with someone of Matt’s experience, is an incredibly exciting opportunity,” he said.

Rathbones managed some £44.1 billion in assets as at the end of December 2018, with much of its work focussed on individual clients, charities and professional advisers.

The group offers discretionary investment management, unit trusts, tax planning, trust and company management, financial advice and banking services.