​Who we are » ​Meet the Team

Meet the Team

  • Keith Ashworth-Lord

    CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

    Keith is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, having formerly been an individual member of the Stock Exchange, and he holds the Investment Management Certificate of the United Kingdom Society of Investment Professionals.

    His career spans over 35 years in equity capital markets, working in company investment analysis, corporate finance and fund management. Immediately prior to setting up Sanford DeLand and the UK Buffettology Fund, he was a self-employed Consultant working with a variety of stockbroking, fund management and private investor clients.

  • Eric Burns

    CHIEF ANALYST

    Eric has over 20 years’ experience of UK equity markets as an investment manager and analyst. He joined Sanford DeLand from WH Ireland where he was an equity analyst for more than twelve years, latterly Deputy Head of Institutional Research.

    In 2015, he was voted Analyst of the Year at the UK SmallCap Awards. He is also a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment (CISI) and sits on the Regional Advisory Group of the London Stock Exchange.

    Eric was appointed as Chief Analyst at Sanford DeLand in January 2020 and leads the stock research process for both the UK Buffettology and Free Spirit Funds.

  • Rex Orton

    Board Chairman

    Rex was appointed Chairman of the Sanford DeLand (SDL) board in January 2019. He has been a shareholder of SDL since foundation and an investor in the Buffettology Fund since inception.

    Rex is Chief Financial Officer of Foster & Freeman Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of forensic investigation equipment.

    Rex was also Financial Director at Latchways plc for 17 years. During his tenure, the business grew its turnover substantially to £40m and was eventually sold to MSA Safety Inc. for 15x EBIT in 2015.     

  • Alex Brotherston

    Chief Executive Officer

    Alex Brotherston has been working in the UK financial services industry for more than 35 years. Most recently, Alex was Head of UK Retail Sales at Franklin Templeton Investments as a result of the acquisition of Rensburg Fund Management, a boutique UK equity fund management company, in January 2011, where he had been CEO.

    Prior to joining Rensburg Fund Management in 1996, Alex worked for Save & Prosper as a Regional Sales Director. 

  • David Beggs

    Investment Analyst

    David joined Sanford DeLand in October 2020 as an Investment Analyst.

    He has a First Class Degree in Economics from Newcastle University and is a CFA Charterholder. David also holds the CFA UK Investment Management Certificate and the CISI Investment Advice Diploma. 

  • Chloe Smith

    Investment Analyst

    Chloe joined Sanford DeLand in October 2021 as an Investment Analyst.

    Prior to joining Sanford DeLand, Chloe has held positions as an investment analyst and portfolio manager with a particular focus on UK and European equity markets, as well as in sustainable and responsible investment. She graduated from Newcastle University with a Law LLB Honours degree in Law and an MSc in International Financial Analysis. She also holds the CFA UK Investment Management Certificate and CISI Level 4 Diploma in Investment Advice.

  • John O'Donnell

    COMPLIANCE OFFICER AND MLRO

    John joined Sanford DeLand in January 2021 as Compliance Officer & MLRO.

    Prior to joining Sanford DeLand, John, who has 30+ years industry experience, held positions with Neilson Cobbold, Laurence Keen, Rathbones and BWD Rensburg. John’s last position was that of MLRO, a post he held for 15 years and which included additional compliance responsibilities.

  • Deanne Fleming

    Finance & HR Executive

    Deanne joined Sanford DeLand in January 2020 as the Executive Assistant to the CIO and CEO becoming Finance & HR Executive in April 2022.

    She has over 15 years’ experience managing back and middle office functions. Previously she worked at WH Ireland and TD Waterhouse leading the Institutional Operations for 12 years.

  • Sanjit Lall

    Business Support Executive

    Sanjit joined Sanford DeLand in April 2022 as Business Support Executive, bringing over 5 years of fund administration & compliance experience.

    He has a degree in Accounting and Finance and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI). Sanjit is currently studying for the CISI Level 4 Investment Management Certificate.