Richard Romer-Lee - Joint Managing Director

Richard is a founder of OBSR and has overall responsibility for investment research and consultancy services. Richard has over 20 years of industry experience and has been involved in investment manager appraisal and selection since 1994. Richard is a well-known and respected commentator on the investment industry.

Ph: +44 203 107 2929
Email: Richard.Romer-Lee@obsr.co.uk

Nigel Whittingham - Joint Managing Director

Nigel joined OBSR in 2007, as executive board director. He has had senior roles with a number of large life companies and fund management groups.  He brings with him a wealth of knowledge gained from setting up and running the multi-manager businesses at both Insight and Edinburgh Fund Managers, where he was Sales and Marketing Director.

Ph: +44 203 107 2925
Email: Nigel.Whittingham@obsr.co.uk

Phil Lindsay - Business Development Director, UK Intermediary and Institutional

Phil joined OBSR in 2005 to further promote the company and expand the client base. He has a wealth of experience and prior to joining OBSR he was head of Bank Distribution for a major provider and was also responsible for liaison with industry commentators including OBSR.

Ph: +44 203 107 2908
Email: Phil.Lindsay@obsr.co.uk

Benjamin Bird - International Development Director

Ben joined OBSR in 2009. He has over 16 years of experience in the investment fund research industry and has worked in a variety of business development and product management roles across Europe and the Middle East. He brings a wealth of experience having worked at Standard & Poor's Fund Services for 10 years and prior to this at Fund Research Limited.

Ph: +44 203 107 2935
Email: Ben.Bird@obsr.co.uk

Peter Toogood - Director of Investment Services

Peter joined OBSR in 2008 and has responsibility for Investment Advisory Services. He has over 20 years' experience researching mutual funds and was previously Chief Investment Officer at Forsyth Partners. He has been instrumental in creating the onshore and offshore ratings services.

Ph: +44 203 107 2933
Email: Peter.Toogood@obsr.co.uk

Gill Hutchison - Head of Investment Consultancy

Gill joined OBSR in 2003 and is a senior member of the investment research and consultancy team. Gill looks after many client relationships and is also head of multi-manager research. Gill has over 16 years' experience having previously worked for two private banking organisations as a Portfolio Manager for discretionary portfolios.

Ph: +44 203 107 2915
Email: Gill.Hutchison@obsr.co.uk

Ruli Viljoen - Head of Investment Research

Ruli joined OBSR in February 2009 and heads up the Investment Research team. As well as conducting research for Global and UK funds, Ruli looks after a number of consultancy clients. Prior to this Ruli managed the long only fund of fund portfolios for a London based asset management group and has also worked as a Private Client Relationship Manager in a South African based private banking organisation. She has worked in the UK in fund research since 1996 and the investment industry since 1987. She holds the Investment Management Certificate and the Investment Advice Certificate qualifications as well as an honours degree in Economics from the University of Cape Town.

Ph: +44 203 107 2916
Email: Ruli.Viljoen@obsr.co.uk

Amaya Assan - Senior Investment Research Analyst

Amaya is a senior member of the investment research team. Amaya has been conducting fund manager research and selection since January 2000 for a private clients' stock broker, then a fund research and portfolio management company before joining OBSR in 2002. She has a Joint Honours degree in Economics and Spanish from Kingston University and holds the Securities Representation Certificate.

Ph: +44 203 107 2913
Email: Amaya.Assan@obsr.co.uk

Diane Earnshaw - Senior Investment Research Analyst

Diane joined OBSR in 2008. She is a senior member of the investment research and consultancy team with a role combining research and client consultancy. Diane previously worked for a national IFA as Head of Research & Investment. She has been involved in manager appraisal and selection since 1995. Diane holds the IMC, the FPC and has a joint honours degree in Economics and Politics from Exeter University.

Ph: +44 203 107 2921
Email: Diane.Earnshaw@obsr.co.uk

Anthony McDonald - Investment Research Analyst

Anthony joined OBSR in September 2008 following the purchase of Crosby Forsyth's fund research and ratings business.  He is involved in fund manager research and the Ratings process.  He has also worked for ABN Amro Asset Management and in politics.  Anthony holds an Honours degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from Oxford University.

Ph: +44 203 107 2939
Email: Anthony.Mcdonald@obsr.co.uk

Chetan Modi - Investment Fund Analyst

Chetan Modi is a fund analyst at OBSR, focused primarily on Global Emerging Markets, North American Equity, UK Equity Income and UK Smaller Companies. After graduating with honors in Business Economics from Brunel University, he spent almost a year travelling around Brazil and India. After co-coordinating an expansion plan for a family business over a two year period, he joined Morningstar's fund research department in 2006 and joined OBSR in 2010 following the acquisition.

Ph: +44 203 107 0062
Email: Chetan.Modi@obsr.co.uk

Diego Higuera - Investment Research Analyst

Diego joined OBSR in October 2010 as an Investment Research Analyst. From a research perspective Diego will focus primarily on the emerging markets, Asian, North American and Absolute Return sectors. He will also be working with a number of consultancy clients. Prior to this Diego worked for an alternative fund manager and he has previously worked in fund management research and selection for an institutional investment manager. Diego holds a degree in Business Administration from Coastal Carolina University and a MSc in International Business and Finance from London South Bank University.

Ph: +44 203 107 2920
Email: Diego.Higuera@obsr.co.uk

Emma O'Neill - Investment Research Analyst

Emma joined OBSR in February 2010 as an Investment Research Analyst. She is involved in fund manager research and the Ratings process. Emma previously worked for AIB Investment Managers in Dublin as a fund analyst in a Multimanager team and as a member of the Portfolio Management team. Emma holds a BA (Hons) degree in Economics and Business from Trinity College in Dublin. She has successfully completed all three CFA exams.

Ph: +44 203 107 2940
Email: Emma.ONeill@obsr.co.uk

Lena Tsymbaluk - Investment Research Analyst

Lena joined OBSR in March 2011 as an Investment Research Analyst. Lena will focus primarily on the emerging markets, Asia and Japan. Prior to this Lena worked for Fung Capital, a private equity arm of Li&Fung Group and prior to that in Horizon Capital, a CIS private equity fund manager. Lena holds a Masters degree in International Studies from SOAS, University of London.

Ph: +44 203 107 2941
Email: Lena.Tsymbaluk@obsr.co.uk

Marianne Weller - Investment Research Analyst

Marianne joined OBSR in April 2011 as an Investment Research Analyst. Marianne previously worked for a discretionary fund manager as an Investment manager. Marianne holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business Administration from the University of Greenwich, the Investment Management Certificate and the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment Diploma.

Ph: +44 203 107 2912
Email: Marianne.Weller@obsr.co.uk

Richard Whitehall - Investment Research Analyst

Richard joined OBSR in November 2010. Richard will be conducting research for UK equity, Global Equity, Specialist and Multi-Asset funds. Richard will also be working with a number of consultancy clients. Previously, Richard worked as an analyst for a London based boutique investment firm. Prior to joining the investment industry in 2007, Richard had been teaching economics for ten years. He has completed Level 2 of the Chartered Financial Analyst examination and holds the Investment Management Certificate. He graduated from the London School of Economics with an honours degree in Economics.

Ph: +44 203 107 2938
Email: Richard.Whitehall@obsr.co.uk

Simon Molica - Investment Research Analyst

Simon joined OBSR in 2008 as an Investment Research Analyst. He is involved in both the qualitative and quantitative research of retail funds. Simon has a background in investment analysis and has gained experience whilst working closely with Investment Consultants, Fund Managers and IFAs. Simon previously worked at HSBC Investments as an Investment Assistant within the Private Discretionary Investment team, gaining exposure to risk analysis, direct stock and fund analysis and performance measurement. Simon was awarded a BSc with Honours degree in Mathematics with Management Studies from Sussex University and has the Investment Management Certificate.

Ph: +44 203 107 2924
Email: Simon.Molica@obsr.co.uk

Andy Brunner - Investment Strategist

Andy joined OBSR in November 2008 as Investment Strategist. He held a similar role at Crosby from April-August 2008 after having run his own consultancy business from September 2002 acting as an adviser to charity and pension funds. Andy started in the industry in September 1976 and held a number of analyst positions prior to becoming Director of Investment at Imperial Trident/Laurentian in July 1982. He was then involved in a combination of asset allocation, investment strategy and fund management at Prolific Asset Management from March 1988-September 1997 and was Global Strategist and Investment Director at Aberdeen Asset Management from September 1997-September 2001. Andy has a BA (Hons) Business Studies from the University of East London.

Ph: +44 203 107 2934
Email: Andy.Brunner@obsr.co.uk

Alex Farlow - Senior Research Analyst

Alex joined OBSR in 2005 and is a Senior Research Analyst. He has overall responsibility for the Selector database in addition to the consultancy work with IFA's and Product and Fund Research he undertakes.  Alex joined the industry in 1998 and ran the research area for a prominent National IFA before joining OBSR. Alex is AFPC qualified and holds a BSc Hons degree in biochemistry.

John Harper - Senior Research Analyst

John joined OBSR in 2004 to look after a number of panel clients. He joined the industry in 1998 and has experience of working within IFA businesses as well as in the development of Financial Services software. John holds a BSc Honours degree in business studies as well as being FPC qualified.

Ph: +44 203 107 2907
Email: John.Harper@obsr.co.uk

Oliver Kettlewell - Investment Research Analyst

Oliver has been with OBSR/Morningstar since August 2008 and for his first three years worked in our Amsterdam office where he covered fund managers based in the Benelux region. Oliver researches both equity and fixed income funds, but specialises in Europe, US and global equity products. Before OBSR/Morningstar, Oliver held similar roles at ABN Amro Asset Management and Fortis Investments, and he began his career at BNY Mellon. He has a MSc in Economics from the University of Amsterdam and a MA in Economic Science (2.1) from the University of Aberdeen.

Muna Abu-Habsa - Investment Research Analyst

Muna is an investment research analyst at OBSR, responsible for conducting qualitative research on European and Global equity funds as well as Property funds primarily available for sale in the UK and Europe. Muna joined Morningstar's research team in 2007 where she covered European and Japanese equity funds and then joined OBSR in 2010 following the acquisition. Prior to that, she spent 18 months in Morningstar's data analysis team, where she spearheaded projects aimed at improving the delivery of UK fund holdings data and served as a performance and portfolio methodology specialist for key clients. Muna has a first class honours degree in Economics from SOAS, University of London, and holds the Investment Management Certificate (IMC).