Baillie Gifford Japan Smaller Companies fund appoints co-manager

Paul Schwerda

The Baillie Gifford Japan Smaller Companies fund has appointed Paul Schwerda as its new co-manager, joining Praveen Kumar.

Schwerda joins the management of the fund with immediate effect, having worked at Baillie Gifford since 2018 as an investment manager in the Japanese Equities team. The £459m fund grew 0.6% in the last year, compared to 5.3% for IA Japanese Smaller Companies, according to data from FE fundinfo. In the last five years, it is down 2.9%, while the sector is up 10.1%. Baillie Gifford revamps Global Stewardship fund James Budden, director of retail marketing and distribution at the firm, said: "Praveen has been managing this fund solo since the end of 2015. Paul's appointment will b...