Sarasin & Partners appoints new leader for private client division
In a strategic move, Tom Vernon has been appointed as the head of Sarasin & Partners' private clients business, succeeding Jamie Black who has been leading the team for over two decades.
Tom Vernon, who joined Sarasin & Partners in 2006, now manages a broad portfolio of UK and international private clients and charities. He is also a member of the firm’s Investment Strategy Group, responsible for maintaining and enhancing client service and investment expertise for the team managing £4.9 billion across over 850 clients.
Jamie Black, the former head of the private clients team, continues with the firm as a Senior Partner and Director of Sarasin Asset Management, the firm's subsidiary managing investment portfolios for US clients. He remains focused on managing long-standing client relationships.
This transition represents a natural evolution where Black stays a key contributor to the wider partnership and continues to lead Sarasin Asset Management, while Vernon leads the day-to-day running and strategic direction of the private clients business. The firm highlights the depth of talent in its private client team, with Vernon's role ensuring continuity in high standards of client service and investment approach, supported by Black’s ongoing leadership for US clients and his senior partner role.
Tom Vernon reaffirms the importance of building enduring relationships with clients, rooted in trust, transparency, and investment insight. He also underscores his commitment to maintaining and improving the team's long-term thematic investment approach.
Meanwhile, Jamie Black expresses his support for Tom Vernon in his new role while continuing his work with clients and the growth of the business. The appointment of Tom Vernon as the head of Sarasin & Partners' private clients business is seen as a reflection of the depth of talent and expertise within the team.
Elsewhere, research indicates that fund selectors are turning to private markets in 2025, a trend that could potentially benefit Sarasin & Partners' private clients business under Tom Vernon's leadership.
[1] Sarasin & Partners Press Release
[2] CityWire
[3] Financial Times
[4] Investment Week
- Tom Vernon, in his role as the head of Sarasin & Partners' private clients business, is responsible for managing the firm's assets across various private clients and charities and collaborating with the Investment Strategy Group to ensure client service and investment expertise.
- As the fund selectors turn to private markets in 2025, a trend noticed in research studies, the growth potential of Sarasin & Partners' private clients business, led by Tom Vernon, could significantly increase, reflecting the team's depth of talent and expertise.
