M&G today announces that Michael Stiasny has been appointed as the new fund manager of the £1.1 billion M&G Dividend Fund, with immediate effect.
Stiasny brings a fresh approach to the 55 year-old M&G Dividend Fund, focusing on a higher yield similar to that of the £1.1 billion Charifund, which Stiasny manages for M&G’s charity clients. As well as focusing on higher yielding stocks, Stiasny will gradually increase the number of holdings in the portfolio to diversify the sources of income. There will be no change to the Fund’s aims, objective or policy.
This fund will complement the range of UK equity strategies that Stiasny manages which aim to provide increasing income streams, having last year taken the reins of the £581 million M&G UK Income Distribution Fund.
Incumbent manager, Phil Cliff, who has 20 years of pan-European investment experience, will continue managing the M&G Pan European Dividend and the M&G European Select funds.
Anton Oliver, Head of Equities, M&G says:
“During Michael’s time in the financial markets and as a fund manager, he has demonstrated strong strategic and stock selection skills. Michael’s stewardship of the Charifund has grown the income distributions to charities year-on-year, allowing them to maintain the important work they do throughout the country. He can now emulate this investment approach for a broader range of our customers.”