Campbell Edgar: Deal was catalyst for move, not cause

Campbell Edgar, ex-consultant director at Andersen Charnley, says his exit from the firm was not caused by its sale to Collins Stewart.

Wealth manager Andersen Charnley was acquired by the firm in June and now provides Collins Stewart's 10,000 clients with financial planning.

Edgar resigned from Andersen Charnley in April to head an eight-man private clients team at John Lamb Partnership.

Edgar says, contrary to other reports, his move was not directly because of the buy-out.

"I didn't move because of the acquisition," he says, "having been a victim of an acquisition before, everything goes up in the air and you have to pick up sticks.

"The acquisition was more of a catalyst than a cause.

"I saw the lie of the land, dusted off my CV and my networks, and met Paula [Steele, MD of John Lamb]. I found that it was a good fit."

Previously, Edgar had said processes within John Lamb are "quite disparate. But he now says this comment was misread.

"John Lamb is a well-structured company, but I will bring marketing prowess and experience to reinforce the team, and help Paula get out and do her business."

Edgar moved to Andersen Charnley from financial planning practice Bloomsbury FP in 2007, which he co-founded in 1998 with Jason Butler.