BlackRock energy manager Batchelor to retire

To leave firm by year-end

BlackRock's energy fund manager Robin Batchelor is retiring from the firm after two decades to pursue other business interests.

Batchelor (pictured) will be leaving behind his £1.6bn BlackRock GF World Energy and £922m GF New Energy funds, which he has managed since 2001. The funds will be taken over by existing co-manager Poppy Allonby, who has been at the helm since 2002, and Alastair Bishop, who will join her as co-manager on the funds. Bishop joined the BlackRock resources team in 2010, covering the energy sector. He had joined as co-managed on the funds as of 2 November. The group said: "Robin Batchelor informed us earlier this year that he wished to leave the fund management industry after a 20-year c...