BlackRock UK small- and mid-cap head Cox departs

BlackRock's head of UK small- and mid-cap equities Ralph Cox has resigned after over 15 years at the firm.

Cox (pictured), who is lead manager on the group's £446m UK Smaller Companies fund and co-manager of the £256m BlackRock Throgmorton trust, is leaving for an extended career break. His role at the helm of the UK small- and mid-cap equities desk will pass to Mike Prentis, currently a managing director at the firm and primary manager on the BlackRock Smaller Companies IT, as well as manager of the Throgmorton trust's long-only portfolio. Management of the UK Smaller Companies fund will be taken over by Roland Arnold, who also co-manages the group's UK Equity and UK Special Situations po...