An award-winning team

Wesleyan's highly experienced and award-winning Investments Team is made up of Fund Managers, an Investments Research Team, a Property Team and a Sustainable Investment (SI) Team.

Recognised for their achievements, the team was named 'Responsible Investor of the Year' at the Insurance Asset Risk Awards 2022, following this up in 2023 with 'Investment Team of the Year Re/insurer'. In the same year, the team also won a 'Diversity Award' at the Wealth & Asset Management Awards.

All of this means that the team is constantly using its expertise and experience to give you the best possible chance of higher financial returns over the long term.

Read more about the Investment Team's approach to investing.

Investments Management Team

Guiding the Fund Managers and their support teams, the Investments Management Team provides the vision and focus that helps us to target potential growth and greater returns.

Martin Lawrence, BSc, ASIP

Martin joined Wesleyan in 1995 as an Investment Analyst, becoming a Fund Manager in 2001. For 20 years, he managed several Wesleyan funds, including the With Profits Fund.

Now, as Director of Investments, Martin is responsible for overseeing the management of all Wesleyan funds and our in-house Investments Team. This includes our Fund Managers, the Investments Research Team, the Property Team and the Sustainable Investment Team. He is also a Director of Wesleyan Unit Trust Managers Ltd. Martin is an Associate of the UK Society of Investment Professionals (ASIP), now the CFA Society of the UK.

 
 

Marc O'Sullivan, BSc, CFA

As Head of Investments, Marc oversees several Wesleyan funds. He manages investments across asset classes, investing directly in UK and overseas equities, government bonds and corporate cash. In addition to this role, he also manages Wesleyan's With Profits Fund.

Joining Wesleyan as an Investment Analyst in 2003, Marc has been a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder since 2008, becoming a Fund Manager in 2012. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with a degree in Economics.

Joe Curlett, MRICS

As Head of our Property Team, Joe is responsible for all aspects of Wesleyan's commercial property investments. He maintains a portfolio of properties located throughout the whole of the UK and is supported by a team of Property Asset Managers.

With a degree in Estate Management, Joe is a fully qualified chartered surveyor and a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS). He previously worked as an Asset Manager for a well-known UK property company and for several property consultants, providing advice to landlords.

Fund Managers

With an eye to providing long-term value, the Fund Managers use their expertise and experience to take care of the day-to-day running of the funds our customers invest in.

Paul Burton, BSc, FIA

Paul is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (FIA) and has been the Fund Manager of our low-risk funds since their launch in 2012. He’s also managed the assets of the Wesleyan Staff Pension Scheme since 1998 and the Society’s Non-Profit Fund since 2012.

He joined Wesleyan in 1990 and qualified as an Actuary in 1998. During his time at Wesleyan, Paul has also worked as an Investment Analyst, so he has plenty of experience gained from different investment-related roles.

Caroline Vincent, BA, ASIP

Caroline joined Wesleyan as a Fund Manager in 2021. She had gained previous industry experience from several senior fund management roles at other investment houses. Specialising in equities – with experience spanning both emerging and developed markets – she currently manages the UK Growth Fund and Life Managed Fund.

Caroline holds a degree in Economics from Thames Valley University and is an Associate of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society of the UK.

Nikesh Patel, CFA

Nikesh joined Wesleyan as an Investment Analyst in 2014, primarily researching UK and international companies. Holding a master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Birmingham, he became a CFA charterholder in 2018.

In early 2024, Nikesh became a Fund Manager at Wesleyan. He is responsible for selecting and monitoring the external funds held within our life and pension product range.

David Carbery, CFA

David joined Wesleyan in 2016, after graduating from Strathclyde University with a degree in Finance. He is a CFA charterholder.

Spending eight years as an Investment Analyst, David worked alongside Fund Managers recommending the buying and selling of stocks, while researching UK and international companies. In early 2024, he became a Fund Manager and is now responsible for the management of the Wesleyan Estate Fund.

Investments Research Team

Our Investments Research Team takes a deep dive into markets to identify opportunities and provide investment recommendations back to our Fund Managers. This helps to potentially maximise the returns on our customers' investments.

Investments Research Manager

James Hubbard, CFA

James joined Wesleyan as an Investment Analyst in January 2011. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a BA in Economics and Business, before working for a corporate bank in London.

James is a CFA charterholder and held the position of Fund Manager at Wesleyan from 2016 to 2023. He moved to a new role in 2024, becoming the lead of our Investments Research Team.

Meet the rest of the team

Wing-Kuang Lau, CFA

Wing-Kuang joined Wesleyan in 2014 as a trainee, having graduated from the University of Warwick as a Master of Mathematics.

In his role as an Investment Analyst (and a CFA charterholder), Wing-Kuang makes investment recommendations. He specialises in the areas of, among others, general retail, beverages, luxury goods, and insurance.

Thomas Ireland 

Tom joined Wesleyan as an Investment Analyst in 2020, after graduating with a BSc in Economics from the University of Birmingham.

His role involves identifying and monitoring global equities in order to make investment recommendations to the Fund Managers. Tom specialises in the travel, leisure, and food/household product consumer staples sectors.

Abdul Youssef, CFA

Abdul joined Wesleyan in 2019, having graduated from the University of Exeter with an MSC in Finance and Investments.

His role involves identifying and monitoring global equities. Using this research, Abdul can make investment recommendations to the Fund Managers. His specialism lies across the healthcare and chemicals sectors.

Saffron Hill

Saffron joined Wesleyan in 2022, after graduating from the University of Exeter with a BA Politics, Philosophy and Economics First Class degree. Her arrival here followed a spell leading a business development division within an international development consultancy.

Specialising in the areas of business services, automotive, telecoms and construction, Saffron supports the Fund Managers with her investment recommendations.

The Sustainable Investment Team

Working alongside Wesleyan’s Fund Managers, the Sustainable Investment Team, headed up by Lucas Howarth, CFA (see right), ensures our investments meet the sustainability requirements we have set ourselves. These are to reduce harm, have a positive impact and drive change.

Find out more about the Sustainable Investment Team and how they take an active role in helping us meet these standards.

Meet the rest of the team

The Property Team

The in-house Property Team, headed up by Joe Curlett (see left), manages our UK commercial property portfolio. Making up around 10% of the With Profits Fund, the portfolio contains over 110 properties, which are handled in line with our environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments.

Find out more about the Property Team and the commercial property portfolio.

Meet the rest of the team

Are you ready to dive into the world of investments?

Investing in funds

Considering investing but not sure where to start? In this guide, we look at how and why to invest in funds. 

Read the guide

Fund prices and performance

Find Wesleyan Group’s latest unit fund prices, plus key information, performance charts and factsheets for each fund.

Fund prices

Investing with Wesleyan

Find out all you need to know about investing with the Wesleyan Group - from the approach we take to the ways you can invest your money.
More on investing

Commercial investments

Learn how investing in the Unit Trust Investment Account from WUTM could give you the chance to grow your money in up to six risk-rated funds. Capital at risk.
Find out more