Castlebay Team

I studied Modern History for my degree but from a young age was interested in investment.  Reading books like Buffettology and about other managers like Peter Lynch and Anthony Bolton, sparked a curioristy about investing that has endured.  Many cite Warren Buffett as their inspiration for investing, but I think Charlie Munger has played a pivotal role in Buffett's investing career. Charlie steered Buffett away from Ben Graham's 'cigar butt' investing to focus on ‘great companies at reasonable prices’.  This approach has had a profound influence on me in my career.

Founding Castlebay with David MacNeil provided an excellent opportunity to put into practice and develop my Quality value approach to investing.  Being a business owner has helped me become a better investor.

Whilst at University studying Law and Chemistry, I spent time with several investment firms and soon realised fund management was exactly what I wanted to do.  This caused me to divert from a legal career to pursue qualifications that would help me understand how a business worked; principally accountancy followed by an MBA. The latter was a revelation as I recognised the importance of corporate strategy, marketing, operational management and finance.  An elective in economic value added (EVA) led to Warren Buffett and his workings, followed by 25 years working as an analyst and fund manager. 

I established Chawton Global Investors in 2019 and manage the Chawton Global income fund. I am a member of the Castlebay investment committee and participate in the analysis of a number of UK and International businesses.

My first involvement with the Davids at Castlebay was as an intern for six months in 2019, where I worked on a range of projects focused on investment management. I joined Castlebay Financial Management in March 2020 and help Alastair Gibson look after his clients.  I enjoy the varied nature of providing financial advice, listening to our clients and helping them to achieve their long term financial goals.

I am a member of the Castlebay investment committee, providing support in the coverage of third party investment funds.

I have worked in a variety of US based software companies throughout my career, ranging from start-ups with a small number of employees to multi-nationals with thousands of employees. Each business had a unique offering, which helped to deliver significant value to its customers. When we discussed establishing Castlebay, I saw similarities in the way both Davids wanted to manage their business and the assets entrusted to them by our clients - of which I am one.

Having known David MacNeil for many years, he described a way of investing which was different. I jumped at the chance to be part of a unique firm, in the investment management sector. Now, nearly a decade after our initial discussions, Castlebay is an established and growing business.

Investing and its influence has grown on me throughout the course of my career. I initially became involved in the world of investment by chance and thoroughly enjoyed a summer spent working in a stock broking firm before starting what would turn out to be my last year of University. Managing someone else’s money is challenging and rewarding in so many ways. It is also a great privilege. 

I have always been very interested in entreprenuership and before founding Castlebay developed relationships and friendships with people who had started their own businesses.  A seed was planted and before long the genesis of Castlebay was formed.  At our heart is a desire to be in partnership and manage our own money alongside our investors for the long term. A simple but effective alignment of best interests which is all too lacking in our industry.  

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After many years as a private equity investor, I was looking for like minded people to manage my public market investments when I met David MacNeil and David Ridland. It was quickly apparent that we shared a similar philosophy so when the discussion turned to establishing Castlebay, I was delighted to become both a client and Partner. 

How would I sum up the founding principles of the partnership? Looking after client money as if it is our own, first class levels of communication and a transparent, valued focused approach to costs.  We are focused on developing a business for the long term and each building block is vitally important.

Russell retired as head of Rathbones Scotland in 2020 and was Chief Executive Officer of Speirs & Jeffrey for nearly a decade before it was purchased by Rathbones in 2018. Prior to joining Speirs in 1997, he spent the early part of his career as an institutional fund manager at Murray Johnstone and then Norwich Union.

Richard joined Baillie Gifford as an Investment Trainee in 1973, becoming a Partner in 1977 and joint Senior Partner in 1999. He retired in 2006. During his time as a partner, Baillie Gifford grew its assets under management from £500 million to over £40 billion, becoming one of the leading fund management businesses in Scotland. In retirement, Richard has been a director of Bankers Investment Trust and EP Global Opportunities Trust and is currently Chairman of JP Morgan Indian Investment Trust, Mid Wynd International Investment Trust and Standard Life Equity Income Trust.

Mick retired as head of US Equities at Baillie Gifford in 2014 after spending 29 years at the firm.  Long term investment, conviction portfolios and eschewing the market noise & investing herd were all key ingredients to long term outperformance in the US, a market well known for being difficult to beat.